Issue - meetings

To seek agreement from Cabinet for the future use, by way of a licence to occupy, of a hostel in Clacton-on-Sea in which to provide temporary homeless accommodation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)         notes the ongoing increase  in temporary accommodation placements across the District and significant associated costs;

b)         authorises the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery),  in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to enter into a twelve month “licence to occupy” arrangement in respect of 13 Beach Road, Clacton-on-Sea from January 2021; and

c)         subject to the availability of Government grant funding, value for money considerations and continuing need, authorises, in principle,  the Corporate Director (Operations & Delivery), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing to extend the twelve month “licence to occupy” year-on-year thereafter.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a detailed report of the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.6) which sought its approval for the future use, by way of a licence to occupy, of a hostel in Clacton in which to provide temporary homeless accommodation.

Members were reminded that the Council had made use of a hostel in Clacton-on-Sea for temporary accommodation since 2018. Due to the accumulating value of the arrangement Cabinet approval was now required in order to enter into a future agreement.

The Cabinet was aware that homelessness applications, temporary accommodation placements and consequently Council spending had been increasing over recent years, a trend that showed no sign of reversing. Currently, temporary accommodation was sourced externally via this hostel, plus a small House in Multiple Occupation and other hotel and bed and breakfast establishments.

Cabinet also recalled that, in June 2020, it had approved the repurposing of Spendells House in Walton-on-the-Naze to temporary accommodation and that scheme was expected to be ready during the latter part of 2021.

The Housing Portfolio Holder (Councillor P B Honeywood) informed the meeting that the Planning Committee, at its meeting held on 15 December 2020, had granted planning permission for Spendells House to be converted into temporary accommodation to support those facing homelessness.

Having considered the information and advice contained in the Portfolio Holder’s report:-

It was moved by Councillor P B Honeywood, seconded by Councillor Talbot and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)         notes the ongoing increase  in temporary accommodation placements across the District and significant associated costs;

b)         authorises the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery),  in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to enter into a twelve month “licence to occupy” arrangement in respect of 13 Beach Road, Clacton-on-Sea from January 2021; and

c)             subject to the availability of Government grant funding, value for money considerations and continuing need, authorises, in principle,  the Corporate Director (Operations & Delivery), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing to extend the twelve month “licence to occupy” year-on-year thereafter.