Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To propose the utilisation of 15 rooms at Whately Hall, Banbury for use as temporary accommodation, continuing the current provision

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1     To approve the extension of the continuous booking of 15 rooms at the Whately Hall for use as temporary accommodation until the end of the financial year.

Resolved

(1)            That the extension of the continuous booking of 15 rooms at the Whately Hall for use as temporary accommodation until the end of the financial year be approved.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to propose the utilisation of 15 rooms at Whately Hall, Banbury for use as temporary accommodation, continuing the current provision.

Resolved

(1)          That the extension of the continuous booking of 15 rooms at the Whately Hall for use as temporary accommodation until the end of the financial year be approved.

Reasons

Extending the agreement with the Whately Hall would assist the Council in meeting the temporary accommodation responsibilities it has to homeless households until other options outlined within the report become available. Households are currently placed in the accommodation, so extending would give some certainty to those households in the short term regarding the location of their placement.

Alternative options

Option 1: To end the arrangement with the Whately Hall and end block bookings

This is an option. It would however not lead to an overall reduction in hotel placements. It would also mean that the households currently placed in the 15 rooms would require immediate rehousing in establishments that are not identified and would have to be sourced within the commercial hotel market. It would also not allow time for other options to become available. This is rejected.

Option 2: To end the arrangement with the Whately Hall and explore alternative options for a block booking.

The Council has explored making a block booking with commercial hotels within the last 3 months. The offer at the Whately Hall is considered favourably for the reasons outlined in the report. A wider procurement exercise could take place to ensure that the Council is certain it is receiving best value. Due to the fact that residents are placed at the hotel currently and due to the other factors outlined in the report, this is rejected at this point, but will be reviewed again within the next 3 months following a review of demand and supply or temporary accommodation.

It is anticipated that Town Centre House will be available from February 2025, based on current demand levels being maintained, it is not anticipated that the provision at Whately Hall will be required when Town Centre House is available.

Option 3: End the arrangement with the Whately Hall and do nothing.

If the Council did nothing, 15 households would require immediate rehoming in alternative temporary accommodation. This is highly likely to be another hotel. Many of these households would be housed in other hotels within Cherwell, but depending on availability, some may have to be housed out of the area. The issues with this approach for the Council and the households within temporary accommodation are outlined within the background of the report.