The reasons for urgency were noted.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To agree that negotiations with Mulberry Housing Society are terminated.

2.    To agree that Angela Court is acquired into the Housing Revenue Account and the units let on secure tenancies.

3.    To agree that Angela Court and the units therein are managed by Tower Hamlets Homes subject to any necessary variations to the management agreement.

4.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Corporate Director, Finance any further decisions required to achieve the outcomes set out in these recommendations.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Divisional Director, Housing and Regeneration (K. Swift)

The reasons for urgency were agreed as set out in the report, namely that:

“Agreement has only recently been reached that this proposal was the most appropriate course of action. Whilst the report could have been delayed to a later Cabinet meeting, any delay to the decision results in a delay to taking action to help support residents into housing. It is also noted that this report follows on from a Cabinet report presented at the meeting on 31 July 2019 and so is not a wholly new issue.”

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report. He highlighted that the report followed on from a decision at July 2019 Cabinet where it had been agreed to lease Angela Court to Mulberry Housing Society. However, this proposal had not progressed as expected and so different options were now being explored. The report was proposing that the Council instead acquire the properties for the Housing Revenue Account and that Tower Hamlets Homes be asked to manage them.

The Mayor welcomed the report and noted that it was now important to have a discussion as to the future role of Mulberry Housing Society. The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted and the Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree that negotiations with Mulberry Housing Society are terminated.

2.    To agree that Angela Court is acquired into the Housing Revenue Account and the units let on secure tenancies.

3.    To agree that Angela Court and the units therein are managed by Tower Hamlets Homes subject to any necessary variations to the management agreement.

4.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Corporate Director, Finance any further decisions required to achieve the outcomes set out in these recommendations.