Issue - meetings

1.    That the Corporate Head of Asset Management be authorised to dispose of the Corner House, North Walls, Winchester on the open market on a freehold or leasehold basis.

2.    That it be noted that the £1.8m Corner House scheme in the capital programme (CAB3490 refers) will be subsumed into the ‘Unallocated 1,000 Homes’ scheme to increase the investment in other affordable accommodation, subject to authority to spend.

Councillor Reach introduced the report which requested authorisation to dispose of the Corner House. He outlined the background to the proposal and the reasons for the changed approach, as summarised in the report.  He emphasised that, including the Corner House, the council had acquired 43 properties since 2020 and 42 of these had been made available for social or affordable housing. 

Ian Tait spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

        Ian Tait advised that he had spoken previously to raise his concerns about the council’s acquisition of the property and the subsequent delays.  He believed that there was no proper business case for the acquisition which had been taken quickly in order to prevent the loss of right to buy receipts but had resulted in costs to the council of over £800,000.  He highlighted that his understanding of the latest proposal was restricted because he was unable to see the contents of the exempt appendix.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lee and Godfrey addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Lee

Councillor Lee stated that Scrutiny Committee had requested further detail about the Corner House acquisition at its meeting on 1 February 2025 but this had not yet been forthcoming.  He requested confirmation that the correct procedures had been followed.  He also queried why a leasehold disposal option was being offered as he believed freehold would offer better value.

Councillor Godfrey

Councillor Godfrey expressed concern that the property had remained empty since its acquisition in 2020 at a cost to the council.   He also referred to other council owned properties which he considered remained empty for too long.  He urged for action to be taken as soon as possible.

Councillor Reach together with the Strategic Director responded to the comments made including confirming that financial viability appraisals had been undertaken prior to the property being acquired and prior to planning permission being applied for which both indicated the scheme would be viable.  Councillor Tod advised that he had responded to the queries raised by The Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet members and invited councillors present confirmed that it was not necessary to go into exempt session to discuss the contents of the exempt appendix.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report (including the exempt appendix) and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.           That the Corporate Head of Asset Management be authorised to dispose of the Corner House, North Walls, Winchester on the open market on a freehold or leasehold basis.

2.           That it be noted that the £1.8m Corner House scheme in the capital programme (CAB3490 refers) will be subsumed into the ‘Unallocated 1,000 Homes’ scheme to increase the investment in other affordable accommodation, subject to authority to spend.