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

DECISION

1.    To approve the budget allocation of £86.000m to fund the first three years of the delivery programme, to include land assembly costs and settlements, such as leaseholder buy-backs, tenant decants and relocation of non-residential interests; fees associated with design, procurement and legal activities; and delivery of the first phase of the development comprising in the region of 100 new council homes and a new community centre, subject to planning.

2.    To note that approval will be sought from the Common Housing Register Forum for decant status for tenants be granted to allow secure tenants that want to move off the estate the opportunity to do so, via the Choice Based Lettings system.

3.    To agree a Demolition Notice be implemented across the estate to allow land assembly and to ensure there are no further Right-to-Buy applications, as acquisitions of the existing leasehold properties takes place.

4.    To agree to the payment of Home Loss payments and other good practice compensation for decanting tenants and for leaseholder buy-back purchases, ahead of any CPO process being progressed by the council (these are statutory payments under CPO legislation).

5.    To delegate to the Corporate Director of Place the authority to appoint external consultants to assess and agree any compensation due to the neighbouring residents or interests; and thereafter to enter into any documentation to extinguish and/or to settle compensation for any infringement by the development of property rights benefitting neighbouring properties (including Rights to Light).

6.    To delegate authority to the Director of Place and the Director of Legal Services to agree the terms of and enter into any documentation required to settle any property matters necessary to progress the regeneration scheme.

7.    To note the intention to bring a further report to Cabinet in 2022 on the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers, which will empower the Council to acquire all land and property interests within the Order Land necessary to facilitate the delivery of the scheme, the use of s203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the use of s19 of the Land Acquisition Act 1981

8.    To agree the principle of relocating the Redcoat Community Centre and Mosque in accordance with the approach set out in section 7 of the report and to delegate the terms of an agreement for lease of a new facility to the Corporate Director of Place, with terms agreed to be included in the scheme’s next report to Cabinet in 2022.

9.    To agree the relocation of Vibrance to the proposed Pritchards Road site and the associated fit-out works required to make it fit for purpose. Delegate the terms of an agreement for the lease to the Corporate Director of Place, with terms agreed to be included in the scheme’s next report to Cabinet in 2022.

10.To agree the proposed procurement route to secure a suitable developer partner or build contractor to deliver the scheme through an open negotiated tender route, as set out in section 9 of the report.

11.To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place and the Corporate Director of Resources to ensure the HRA Business Plan can support the delivery of the scheme before any development agreement or build contract are entered into.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Interim Head of Housing Supply (R. Brandon)

(Housing Project Manager (J. Abraham)

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report on proposals to regenerate Harriott, Apsley and Pattison Houses. The recommendations would enable this ambitious project to progress. Extensive consultation has been undertaken and significant community support had been demonstrated. The project would develop 400 well-designed new homes with a space for the Red Coat Community Facility and Mosque. A day centre currently on site was being relocated.

This was the first report in relation to the scheme with specific decisions required set out in the recommendations, including around the buy-back of leaseholder homes and information about decanting residents. The funding set out was contained within the Housing Revenue Account budget planning.

Finally he thanked officers for their hard work and to the residents who have taken time to help shape the proposals.

The Cabinet heard from two local residents from the steering group who strongly supported the proposals set out. They thanked the Council for the work to bring residents into the process for developing the exciting plans. Cabinet also noted how important it was for services to residents to continue at the same standard throughout the development work and for the mosque to continue to be able to operate.

The Mayor welcomed the report and the scheme set out. He stated how important it was to get the project moving. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and proposed the recommendations as set out. These were unanimously agreed by the Members present and it was:

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the budget allocation of £86.000m to fund the first three years of the delivery programme, to include land assembly costs and settlements, such as leaseholder buy-backs, tenant decants and relocation of non-residential interests; fees associated with design, procurement and legal activities; and delivery of the first phase of the development comprising in the region of 100 new council homes and a new community centre, subject to planning.

2.    To note that approval will be sought from the Common Housing Register Forum for decant status for tenants be granted to allow secure tenants that want to move off the estate the opportunity to do so, via the Choice Based Lettings system.

3.    To agree a Demolition Notice be implemented across the estate to allow land assembly and to ensure there are no further Right-to-Buy applications, as acquisitions of the existing leasehold properties takes place.

4.    To agree to the payment of Home Loss payments and other good practice compensation for decanting tenants and for leaseholder buy-back purchases, ahead of any CPO process being progressed by the council (these are statutory payments under CPO legislation).

5.    To delegate to the Corporate Director of Place the authority to appoint external consultants to assess and agree any compensation due to the neighbouring residents or interests; and thereafter to enter into any documentation to extinguish and/or to settle compensation for any infringement by the development of property rights benefitting neighbouring properties (including Rights to Light).

6.    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Legal Services to agree the terms of and enter into any documentation required to settle any property matters necessary to progress the regeneration scheme.

7.    To note the intention to bring a further report to Cabinet in 2022 on the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers, which will empower the Council to acquire all land and property interests within the Order Land necessary to facilitate the delivery of the scheme, the use of s203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the use of s19 of the Land Acquisition Act 1981

8.    To agree the principle of relocating the Redcoat Community Centre and Mosque in accordance with the approach set out in section 7 of the report and to delegate the terms of an agreement for lease of a new facility to the Corporate Director of Place, with terms agreed to be included in the scheme’s next report to Cabinet in 2022.

9.    To agree the relocation of Vibrance to the proposed Pritchards Road site and the associated fit-out works required to make it fit for purpose. Delegate the terms of an agreement for the lease to the Corporate Director of Place, with terms agreed to be included in the scheme’s next report to Cabinet in 2022.

10.To agree the proposed procurement route to secure a suitable developer partner or build contractor to deliver the scheme through an open negotiated tender route, as set out in section 9 of the report.

11.To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place and the Corporate Director of Resources to ensure the HRA Business Plan can support the delivery of the scheme before any development agreement or build contract are entered into.