COUNCIL chiefs are set to extend a £297,000-a-year contract which provides supported housing for single adults at risk of homelessness at James Lee House.

The executive board will vote on the contract for the council-owned site, on Brick Street, at its Town Hall meeting on Monday.

As well as providing supported housing, it also aims to ‘maintain the delivery and planned development of further services’ to single homeless adults in Warrington.

James Lee House, which is managed and run by the Salvation Army, provides 54 units of accommodation for men and, since April 2016, up to eight women.

The accommodation is used exclusively by the Salvation Army under an extended lease arrangement with building landlord Your Housing Group.

The current contract, which has an annual value of £297,000, has been in place since April 1 2016 and expires on March 31 this year.

The new agreement would be for a period twelve months until March 31 next year, with the option to extend for a further six months.

The value of the proposed contract remains at £297,000 per year.

If the additional six month contract option is actioned, the total value will be £445,500.

In her report, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, executive board member for public health and wellbeing, said: “The service is intended to reduce risk and need, which contributes to the reduction in demand and costs associated with other services, for example, hospital, mental health, substance misuse and other services.

“The proposal does not place any additional financial responsibilities on the council other than those currently in place as the budget has been allocated to fund the services.

“In the event of awarding, no adverse impact has been identified – this view is in the context of the improvements made to extend services to women and planned direct access beds while also maintaining the existing service.

“The impact of not awarding has been assessed in the context of the impact on current residents and rough sleepers and others at risk of homelessness who need support.

“The full impact will be dependent on the alternative arrangements that can be made but as noted the likelihood of alternative provision is limited and therefore the position will be kept under review until contract arrangements are concluded.”

Executive board members are recommended to award the contract for one year, from April 1 this year to March 31 next year, with the opportunity to extend it for a further six months.