Issue details

Lease of vacant residential properties to a Registered Provider

The County Council has a small number of vacant residential properties which are no longer needed for their original operational purposes; some of these have been identified as suitable for families with children needing accommodation.    The County Council is not legally able to grant residential tenancies of a nature that would facilitate the letting of these properties directly to the families.   YMCA Downslink Group (YMCA) has been identified as a suitable Registered Provider. The YMCA proposes to apply for government grant to bring the properties up to a lettable standard, to manage and maintain the properties for 5 years under the terms of the lease, accept tenant nominations from the County Council, manage the tenancies, collect rents, carry out day to day maintenance of the properties and prepare the properties between tenancies.  There will therefore be no up-front capital cost to the County Council.  There should also be savings against the current arrangements for temporary accommodation.

 

Cabinet will be asked to endorse the leasing of vacant residential property to a Registered Provider for the purpose of housing families to whom the County Council has a Children Act duty for their temporary accommodation.   It is proposed to lease the properties to YMCA Downslink Group (YMCA).   It will be proposed that authority is delegated to the Director Property and Assets in consultation with the Director Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the leases and the nomination arrangements with the Registered Provider and  to agree a list of current suitable properties to be part of  the proposal for the scheme and agree future properties should they become available.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Arundel & Courtwick; Bersted; Chichester South; East Grinstead Meridian; Felpham; Horsham East; Rother Valley; Selsey; Southwick; St Leonard's Forest; Three Bridges;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/11/2019

Decision due: December 2019 by Cabinet

Lead member: Councillor Jeremy Hunt jeremy.hunt@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Elaine Sanders, Property Services Manager Email: elaine.sanders@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 25605.

Consultation process

Representation can be made to the decision maker via the officer contact.

Consultees

Local members

Democratic Services Contact: Suzannah Hill Ttel 033 022 22551

Background3: A Council that Works for the Community

Decisions

Background papers

  • None