Decision details

The Council has been awarded Homes England Community Housing Fund to create a dedicated internal team to work collaboratively and in partnership with Community Led Housing Groups to deliver homes that are built by the community, for the community and designed to meet their local housing needs. It is anticipated £285k will be used to establish a dedicated internal project team. The residual amount of £250k will be used to undertake enabling activities to bring forward a range of community led housing projects across the City.
Funding to be spent by end of March 2020 and final claim to be made by April 2020.
This is an opportunity and new cost.
This fund is to be retained in earmarked reserves and can be drawn down quarterly post submission of new spend actually incurred.

Authorise drawing down £535k Homes England Community Housing Fund

Option 1 -
The Council could not draw down the Homes England Community Housing Funding. However this alternative option was rejected as the Council is committed to supporting Community Led Housing Groups across the City and currently has limited resources to support the sector. Creating an internal project team dedicated to supporting Community Led Housing Groups funded through Homes England will deliver a step chance in the way the Council can work with in partnership with community led housing groups to accelerate housing delivery.
Option 2 -
Option 3 -