Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Leisure seeking approval to purchase the vacant Childrens’ Referral Unit at Selborne Avenue, Harefield from the General Fund and convert into temporary homeless accommodation; as well as convert the ground floor of Oatlands House formerly leased to the PCT.  Upon completion of this, sell Seymour House with receipts to be returned to the HRA, attached.

(i)  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, the addition of a £1,270,000 Homeless Temporary Accommodation scheme to the Modern Facilities  section of the HRA Capital Programme for the appropriation, from the General Fund, of the former Children’s Referral Unit  in Selborne Avenue and for the refurbishment of Selbourne Avenue and Oatlands House to be funded by capital receipts from the sale of Seymour House and a virement from savings  in the 2013/14 Housing  Refurbishment scheme as detailed in Appendix 2.

(ii)  To approve in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules expenditure in financial year 2013/14 of £1,270,000 (including fees) on the Homeless Temporary Accommodation scheme.

(iii)  To note the proposed disposal of Seymour House following completion of works to Selbourne Avenue and Oatlands House.

(i)  This report is presented as a general exception item in accordance with Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution. Amendments to the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to information) (England) Regulations 2012 require 28 days notice to be given prior to determining all Key Decisions. This new requirement was published by Government mid August and came into effect on 10th September 2012. Whilst the report did have the required 28 days notice, the new requirement to indicate potential elements of confidentiality was not complied with as notification of the decision was published on the 4^th March 2013.

(ii)  Financial Procedure Rules state that all schemes already in the capital programme up to the value of £125,000 require approval by the relevant Chief Officer following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and Chief Finance Officer. Schemes over £125,000 but less than £250,000 will require approval by the Cabinet Member. Schemes between £250,000 and £2 million will require Cabinet approval.

1. The alternative option to this proposal would be to undertake the improvements needed to Seymour House of £750K plus fees (total £850K) to ensure the properties are upgraded to the Council’s adopted standards.
2. This course of action would still leave the Council with a property that is old, not with the best layout, thermally inefficient and not flexible enough for all homeless requirements
3. This would also involve relocating all existing tenants and the 16 flats being rendered unusable for 6 months whilst improvements are carried out.  In addition, this process would incur additional costs and lost revenue.
4. By simply refurbishing Seymour House this would leave the Council with 16 units whereas the proposal will provide 18 units, a net gain of 2 units.
5. The cost of £850,000 (including fees) for the refurbishment of Seymour House is included in the HRA Capital Programme and part of the saving resulting from not proceeding with the work will be used to fund the  balance of the expenditure  on the Homeless Temporary Accommodation scheme. This will result in a net saving to the HRA Capital Programme. The detail is shown in Appendix 2.