Agenda item

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which advised that the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had launched a fourth round of the Local Authority Housing fund (LAHF) to run over the financial years of 2026/27 to 2029/30.

Oldham Council had been awarded an allocation of £3,719,182 comprising of a capital grant element of £3,676,200 and revenue grant of £42,982. To secure the Grant a legally non-binding Memorandum of Understanding needed to be completed between the Council and MHCLG by 10^th April 2026.

The LAHF grant should be used to deliver:

a.             22 properties (2-4+ bed) to be allocated to temporary accommodation.

b.             7 properties (2-3 bed) for resettlement households

c.              6 properties (4+ bed) for resettlement households

The submitted report was presented under Rules 13 and 14 of the Council’s Constitution, after the Chair of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board had approved its submission without it having been on the forward plan, of key decisions, due to the requirement to secure a decision from the Cabinet, prior to its next scheduled meeting on 15^th June 2026 and in doing so exempted the report from the call-in process.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 (preferred Option) – to complete the Memorandum of Understanding and accept the grant monies. Under this option, the Council would receive £3.7 M to help deliver 35 homes including 22 to provide accommodation to families who are owed a statutory homeless duty by the local authority.  Whilst the exact figures are not yet known, this will lead to revenue savings for the Local Authority.

Option 2 – to decline the grant monies. Under this option, the Council could decline to accept the MHCLG grant and not take part in the scheme.  By not completing the MoU no grant would be paid to the Council.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Approves acceptance of the £3,7191,82 grant from MHCLG, comprising:

a.    £2,611,200 capital allocation for 2026/27

b.    £1,065,000 capital allocation for 2028/29

c.     One-off revenue allocation of £42,982

2.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods for:

a.    Approval of preferred model(s) to achieve delivery of expected outcomes.

b.    Approval of any necessary procurement exercises, to enable delivery of this scheme.

3.    Delegates authority to the Director of Legal, or his nominee, to formalise any necessary legal requirements including signing and/or sealing any documentation required to give effect to the recommendations and/or delegations in this report.

4.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive, or her nominee, to approve the appointment of external legal advisors, as required, to protect the Council’s interests and give effect to the recommendations in this report.

5.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive, or her nominee, to sign and return the Memorandum of Understanding with MHCLG by the deadline of 10^th April.

6.    The Cabinet notes the actions of the Chair of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board in allowing the submission of this agenda item and exempting the submitted report from the call-in process.