Agenda item

DECISION

1.    That a partnership arrangement with Framework Housing Association be agreed to allow for the delivery of ten units of accommodation through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.

2.   That the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Communities be delegated the development of a local lettings policy to ensure that the units of accommodation delivered through this scheme are allocated to rough sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping and that these units are available for this purpose for a minimum of 30 years.

Portfolio Holder and Officer

MG / MH

REASON FOR DECISION

Councillor Martin Griggs presented a report outlining the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme. The Government had placed significant emphasis on addressing rough sleeping during the Covid-19 pandemic. Building on an existing focus on reducing rough sleeping, the Council had been successful in accessing additional funding for emergency accommodation provision and had repurposed existing rough sleeping funding to ensure a proactive and effective response.

The next phase of the Government’s Covid-19 response to homelessness was to make accommodation available longer term for those who had been accommodated during the pandemic, and to make this accommodation available for the purpose of providing accommodation for current and future rough sleepers on a longer term basis (30 years) through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).

In August 2020, Local Authorities were invited to bid to the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme. Local Authority bidders to this capital programme were required to either have Homes England Investment Partner status or to work with a suitably experienced partner with this in place.

A bid was submitted by the Council endorsing Framework Housing Association as its delivery partner. This had been accepted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Homes England who had agreed an allocation of £739,297 (capital and associated support revenue costs) to deliver ten units of accommodation in the borough of Boston. These units would be available for occupation by 31^st March 2021. Allocation of these units would be prioritised for rough sleepers / those at risk of rough sleeping. It was proposed that this was managed via a specific allocations agreement known as a local lettings policy.

Homes England were currently in the final stages of a due diligence process and wer preparing to issue contracts. The funding would be allocated directly to Framework Housing Association.

Members commended the programme, which would help the most vulnerable people, and welcomed it particularly at this time of year as the weather worsened.  

There was surprise and disappointment that no other housing providers had submitted a proposal, especially the larger providers in the borough, when this was so important.  In addition, it was remarked that the programme would need regular scrutiny to ensure it was delivering the service appropriately. 

In response, Councillor Griggs confirmed that scrutiny would be achieved through the proposed local lettings policy, a service level agreement that would be drawn up between the Council and Framework HA, as well as the submission of periodic evidence for monitoring, which was a requirement of the MHCLG.  Other housing providers in the borough might have been unable to submit bids due to the short timescale.  Also, many rough sleepers had issued that made them of high risk and some providers were reluctant to take that level of risk. 

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Boston Borough Council was unable on this occasion to bid for capital funding itself to deliver the RSAP due to not being a housing provider and not having Homes England Investment Partner (IP) status. The steps to achieve IP status were prohibitive within the timescales. The ongoing administrative requirements were prohibitive for a scheme of this scale.

Whilst other providers had expressed an interest in working on this bidding opportunity in Boston, there were no other proposals submitted within the short bidding timescale. Framework HA is an experienced provider with a strong track record and ability to deliver this scheme in Boston Borough. Due diligence is currently being carried out by Homes England prior to contracts being issued.

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

None.