A new supported living building for people with brain injuries and disabilities is a step closer to opening after cabinet members agreed to lease the building to a specialist care and housing organisation.
Brighton and Hove City Council has granted a 125-year lease to not-for-profit housing and care provider Southdown for Brickfields, a £6 million specialist new build on the former Knoll House site in Hove.
At a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Thursday (14 May), members were told that the council could recover the full £60,000 housing benefit subsidy when a registered provider such as Southdown claimed it.
Under the terms of the lease, Southdown will carry out all repairs and maintenance.
Papers published before the meeting said that an alternative option – of the council managing the building as a landlord – would mean that tenants had tenancies for life.
This could lead to people without care needs living in the building if the main tenant had died or if residents no longer needed support.
The report said: “By selecting a registered provider with specialist experience, the council will secure a well-run, sustainable service that meets the needs of vulnerable residents, maximises funding opportunities and supports the city’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality care and accommodation.”
The council’s corporate director for homes and adult social care Genette Laws said that the council was borrowing on the building which had been “effectively sold”.
But the process would result in savings to council budgets because people with these disabilities would not be housed in expensive placements outside Brighton and Hove.
The Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey said that bringing people back home to Brighton and Hove was important.
Councillor Sankey said: “It’s fantastic this is making a contribution to our improvement journey.
“I understand we have many potential residents that could move into this facility if we’re able to get things up and running in September.”
She added: “This provision is going to be so important in terms of the need that we know exists which is why I don’t favour the alternative option of using the building for other means.
“This needs to go to people with disabilities and acquired brain injuries as has always been the plan.”
The building has 27 one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat, all wheelchair-accessible, to provide specialist care and support.
During budget discussions last December, councillors were told that there was a potential £300,000 saving by moving 28 people into Brickfields from relatively expensive housing outside Brighton and Hove.
Why 125 yr lease? Is there protection for BHCC if Southdown ceased to operate? What is to prevent Southdown selling on the lease to an organisation/ housing association etc which does not provide rhe same services as Southdown?
I don’t think that the length of the lease is such a big issue as it is to be on full-reparing terms. Obviously there are financial implications which must be justified.
I do agree with you that there should safeguards and scrutiny should the lessees be incapable of fulfilling their commitments. I am always circumspect of transferring public assets to private entities. Hopefully due diligence has been done and contingency clauses added in this case.
I don’t think that the length of the lease is such a big issue as it is to be on repairing terms. Obviously there are financial implications which must be justified.
I do agree with you that there should safeguards and scrutiny should the lessees be incapable of fulfilling their commitments. I am always circumspect of transferring public assets to private entities. Hopefully due diligence has been done and contingency clauses added in this case.