Decision details

Having, considered the confidential appendices, and following a minor amendment to recommendation 4, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the purchase of various land parcels and buildings identified in Appendix 1 to the report be approved and the Divisional Director of Housing Services, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be delegated authority to enter into negotiations and contracts for purchase of land where the scheme would be enhanced and/or was forecast to recover the expenditure in the interest of land assembly;

(2)          the Divisional Director of Housing Services, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be delegated authority to negotiate with existing leaseholders to repurchase leases at rates compatible with minimising costs while reducing the risk of a full Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process; 

(3)          the making of payments to leaseholders in line with their entitlement to statutory Home Loss and Disturbance costs be authorised;

(4)          officers be authorised to either:

a)            proceed with the selection, in compliance with EU Procurement Rules and Council’s Constitution, of a constructor on the basis of a joint venture or Design & Build contract allowing for a parcel of the site to be transferred to the constructor /developer in order to minimise the Council’s initial costs; or

b)            recommend that the Council retain overall control of the project and undertake the full development including the sale of private units and, in the event that this is the preferred option and in the best interests of the Council, a further report be produced for Cabinet to consider;

(5)          the principle of an equity share scheme for those resident leaseholders or freeholders who would otherwise be unable to raise sufficient capital to purchase outright or, via shared ownership, a replacement property, as set in appendix 1 of the report, be approved;

(6)          the appointment of external legal advisors to give guidance on contracts required to appoint the construction partner and to transfer the land for the private element of the development, where the Director of Legal and Governance Services identified that this would be beneficial, be approved;

(7)          officers begin preparatory work in relation to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO);

(8)          the creation of capital budget within the Housing Account of £6.102m, as described in the report, be authorised and the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be authorised to vire money between the existing budget allocation of £6.2m identified for the purchase of 20 properties for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Grange Farm repurchase of properties / land assembly as required. 

Reason for Decision:  The regeneration of the estate was a complex process with numerous stakeholders who had interests in the estate.  To authorise officers to take action to deliver the scheme.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the officer report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.