Issue - meetings

1.       That HRA capital expenditure of up to £0.680 m be approved for the purchase of 2 properties and associated costs as identified in the exempt appendix (as amended) to report CAB3468, using the HRA new build unallocated schemes budget, subject to each purchase demonstrating a positive net present value including cost of necessary works.

2.       That HRA capital expenditure of £ 0.680m be approved for the purchase of 2 properties yet to be identified using the HRA new build unallocated schemes budget, subject to each purchase demonstrating a positive net present value including cost of necessary works.

3.       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head – Asset Management and the Strategic Director with the responsibility for housing to make offers for the unidentified properties and to complete purchase the 4 properties.

Councillor Westwood introduced the report which sought approval to purchase of  two properties and to delegate authority to the Strategic Director to approve the purchase of an additional two homes subject to availability and viability to increase the number of council owned homes.

Ian Tait spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

          He had concerns that the report did not address the wider issue regarding the lack of affordable housing in the district and reiterated comments he had made at previous meetings regarding the requirement to find land to build a new council housing estate. 

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

          She supported the proposals in principle but requested clarification of various points, including how many properties it was proposed to purchase, whether they were currently houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and what proportion was being funded by the county council.

Councillor Westwood and the Service Lead – Strategic Housing responded to the comments made including confirming that the proposal was to purchase two properties at this stage with two further properties to be purchased at a later stage, subject to availability and viability.

Cabinet moved into exempt session to consider the contents of the exempt appendix (as amended) before returning to open session to consider the report’s recommendations as set out below.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.             That HRA capital expenditure of up to £0.680 m be approved for the purchase of 2 properties and associated costs as identified in the exempt appendix (as amended) to report CAB3468, using the HRA new build unallocated schemes budget, subject to each purchase demonstrating a positive net present value including cost of necessary works.

2.             That HRA capital expenditure of £ 0.680m be approved for the purchase of 2 properties yet to be identified using the HRA new build unallocated schemes budget, subject to each purchase demonstrating a positive net present value including cost of necessary works.

3.             That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head – Asset Management and the Strategic Director with the responsibility for housing to make offers for the unidentified properties and to complete purchase the 4 properties.