RESOLVED that –
(a) the outcome of the work undertaken in identifying an alternative use for the Spendells House site, Walton-on-the-Naze be noted;
(b) in consideration of the increase in temporary accommodation placements across the District and significant associated costs, Cabinet agrees that the Spendells House site should be retained and reconfigured for the provision of temporary housing accommodation;
(c) the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to submit a planning application for the change of use of Spendells House in order to form hostel type accommodation;
(d) subject to the above, the necessary works be undertaken to the property at an estimated cost of £0.600m, with this cost being met in 2020/21 from within the existing Housing Revenue Account capital programme; and
(e) the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) be authorised to make the necessary adjustments to the base on-going revenue budget (both General Fund and Housing Revenue Account) in order to reflect the on-going cost of operating Spendells House as temporary accommodation, but with no overall net impact on existing budgets.