Agenda

Purpose of Report

To present the updated draft Empty Private Residential Property Strategy 2025 - 2030 which outlines the Council's approach to addressing empty private homes in Portsmouth.  The strategy highlights the Council's key aims and strategic approach on how it intends to address the issues of empty homes in Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness:

1.    Agrees the draft strategy in principle for the Council's Empty Private Residential Property Strategy 2025 - 2030 at Appendix 1.

2.    Approves a non-statutory consultation to be undertaken from 2^nd June 2025 to 7^th July 2025.

3.    Instructs officers to bring a final version of the Empty Property strategy 2025 - 2030, following the non-statutory consultation, to a decision meeting in September 2025 for approval.

Purpose of Report

This report seeks approval from the Cabinet Member for Housing & Tackling Homelessness, for capital funding to convert the former Wecock Farm Area Housing Office to deliver 4 council homes.

To include the addition of a budget to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, funded from borrowing and either grant or retained capital receipts, and delegations to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to deliver the project after appropriate consultation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Cabinet Member for Housing & Tackling Homelessness:

1.    Approves the addition of a scheme for the conversion of Wecock Farm Area Housing Office via the HRA Capital Programme, to deliver 4 new council homes, with a budget of £759,000, phased as £506,000 in 2025/26 and £253,000 in 2026/27.

2.    Delegates authority to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources & S151 Officer, to amend the rent profile, composition and spending profile of the proposed scheme in order to meet regulatory, design and procurement requirements and also to agree the use of HRA unsupported borrowing, along with either grant funding or retained capital receipts, whilst ensuring that the schemes remain financially viable following any necessary changes.

3.    Delegates to the Director of Neighbourhood and Building Services to apply for any grant funding to support the scheme.

4.    Delegates to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, an ability to enter contracts to enable the development.