Issue - meetings

The purpose of the report is to outline the opportunity to support Portsmouth Community Housing Trust and residents of Portsmouth requiring housing by transferring the buildings previously leased to Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) on a peppercorn rent to the Portsmouth Community Housing Trust with the sole purpose of providing affordable rental accommodation as identified by Portsmouth City Council.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Resources approves the following:

(1)  That 1-3 Angerstein Road be transferred by long lease to the Portsmouth Community Housing Trust for the provision of housing as identified by Portsmouth City Council

(2)  That delegation be made to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Buildings to agree a Lettings Agreement with Portsmouth Community Housing Trust that ensures Portsmouth has nomination rights to allocate the properties in line with the Portsmouth City Council Allocation Policy

(3)  That delegation be made to the City Solicitor to complete all necessary legal work to complete matters

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Louise Wilders, Director of Community and Communication, introduced the report which proposed that 1-3 Angerstein Road be transferred to the Portsmouth Community Housing Trust for the purpose of providing affordable rental accommodation as identified by Portsmouth City Council.

She said the intention was for the rents to be set at the social rents level. This will take some pressure from PCC in addressing housing need.

She advised that the property was in a state of dilapidation and that the cost of repair will be undertaken by the Housing Trust.

Wayne Layton, Finance officer said that the work required to bring the property into a suitable state of repair was not viable for PCC to undertake and it makes financial sense to transfer the property to the Trust. Tom Southall, property services highlighted paragraph 4.2 that supports the proposal.  There are risks associated with any lease but there are the usual safeguards around assignment etc.

The Cabinet Member said that she considered this to be a good development and would like more properties like this to be used in the same way.  She was pleased to approve the recommendation as there is a need to address the housing shortage.

DECISION:

that the Cabinet Member for Resources approved

the following:

(1) That 1-3 Angerstein Road be transferred by long lease to the

Portsmouth Community Housing Trust for the provision of

housing as identified by Portsmouth City Council

(2) That delegation be made to the Director of Housing,

Neighbourhoods and Buildings to agree a Lettings Agreement

with Portsmouth Community Housing Trust that ensures

Portsmouth has nomination rights to allocate the properties in

line with the Portsmouth City Council Allocation Policy

(3) That delegation be made to the City Solicitor to complete all

necessary legal work to complete matters