Scarborough Council strikes deal to provide hotel rooms for homeless families during coronavirus outbreak

The authority will also write to the Government asking to be reimbursed the cost of the measures, which has not been revealed at this stage.

Details of the move were made public following an urgent decision taken by the council’s chief executive Mike Greene last Thursday April 9.

The decision reveals that the authority has entered into a partnership with Wheelhouse Ventures to provide up to 24 rooms at three hotels.

On its website Wheelhouse Ventures advertises rooms at the Rowntree Lodge, The Maynard and The Redcliffe, all in Scarborough’s South Bay.

The council will underwrite the cost of providing the hotel rooms and also for “floating security” on evenings and weekends to support the management of all the temporary accommodation across the borough.

The printed decision taken by Mr Greene adds that the council will “ensure all accommodated people sign up to Housing Benefit; noting that any Housing Benefit receipts will reduce the costs underwritten by the council.”

It also states that the council will write to Government for “reimbursement of this additional noting that the council has acted in good faith, to respond to the Government’s request to accommodate all rough sleepers.”

A report into the chief executive’s decision has not been made public by the council.

The move comes after councils across the country were asked to find accommodation for homeless people in their area in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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