The points raised by the deputation from the Ocean Estate Tenants & Leaseholders Association (Agenda item 4); and the response of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (3^rd April 2007) to the Cabinet’s request for consideration and advice on this matter (tabled at Agenda item 6.2(i) were noted.   Officers were further asked to take these points into account when developing proposals for the next phase of consultation.

 

The Chair moved an amendment to the recommendations as follows:

 

To add an additional recommendation at 2.2.3.1 ‘To agree that the reprovision of services and facilities will be the subject of consultation with existing service providers and will include consideration of possible reprovision of services and facilities on the site of Haileybury/Dame Colet, as part of any redevelopment scheme’. 

 

This amendment was agreed and is included at resolution 9 below.

 

The Cabinet further agreed that in accordance with Section 17 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the decisions on this matter are urgent and may therefore not be subject to call-in.  

 

Resolved

 

The Rapid Review Context (Section 4)

 

1.         That the outcome of the Communities and Local Government rapid review and its implications for the Ocean New Deal for Communities programme be noted.

 

2.         That the indicative funding gap with regard to delivery of the regeneration of the Ocean Estate, as identified in paragraphs 4.3 and 5.4 of the report, be noted

 

3.         To note that New Deal for Communities (NDC) grant cannot be utilised to fund a decent homes package (paragraph 4.8).

 

4.         To note that the NDC funding allocated for housing regeneration (£17.4million and for community facilities (£1.8million) is predicated on an alternative regeneration package being identified that will ensure transformational change on the estate.

 

5.         To note that the NDC funding allocated for housing regeneration and community facilities is further dependent on the Council’s housing capital programme allocation (£14.25million) remaining ring-fenced for the Ocean Estate.

 

The Revised Approach to Housing Regeneration (Section 5)

 

6.         That the Regeneration Partnership Approach, as set out in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.10 of the report, provides the optimum approach to             delivering transformational change, in that it enables retained stock to remain within the Council’s control, and tenancies of retained stock to remain secure Council tenancies, while attracting partnership investment funding for both      refurbishment and new build of mixed tenure homes on the estate.

 

7.         To note that the Regeneration Approach is dependent upon a number of “feeder” sites, listed in paragraph 5.15, being placed, when vacated, into a special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

8.         That the feeder sites/buildings listed in paragraph 5.15 be declared surplus to requirements, upon satisfactory relocation of existing service providers where appropriate.

 

9.         To agree that the reprovision of services and facilities will be the subject of consultation with existing service providers and will include consideration of possible reprovision of services and facilities on the site of Haileybury/Dame Colet, as part of any redevelopment scheme’

 

10.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal can transfer the feeder sites, as listed in paragraph 5.15, when vacated, to a special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, at nil consideration.

 

11.       To note that the Regeneration Partnership Approach is further dependent on Urban Block E (Option 1) comprising the blocks listed in paragraph 5.9.1, or          Urban Block E and Urban Block F (Option 2) comprising the blocks listed in paragraphs 5.9.1 and 5.10.1, also being placed, when vacant, into the special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

12.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal can transfer  Urban Block E, or Urban Block E and Urban Block F, when vacant, to the   special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

13.       To note that Option 2, as set out in paragraph 5.10 is likely to provide the most comprehensive regeneration for the estate, but that both options 1 and 2 be worked up further.

 

14.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal, after consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) and Director of Resources, be authorised to determine the form of procurement for an investment partner, as set out in paragraph 5.6, in accordance with European Union procurement rules and financial regulations.

 

The Vacation of Council Blocks

 

15.       To note that the blocks grouped in Urban Block E, and listed in paragraph 5.9.1 already have decant status.

 

16.       That decant status be granted, with effect from September 2007, for the blocks grouped in Urban Block F and listed in paragraph 5.10.1.

 

17.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised to negotiate voluntary buyback of leaseholder interests in Urban Block F, as set out in paragraph 5.17.

 

18.       That a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) be made as set out in paragraph 5.18 of the report, in respect of all interests in the properties listed in paragraph 5.18.3 (Urban Block E), and to include in the CPO any further properties bought under right to buy, prior to the expected date of taking possession under the CPO; and that the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised, after consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) and Director of Resources, to make the CPO and carry out all necessary steps to acquire the properties.

 

Capital Estimates

 

19.       That a capital estimate be adopted to the value of £33.45million, comprising £19.2million NDC grant and £14.25 from the Housing capital programme, for the capital costs arising from the development and delivery of a housing regeneration programme for the Ocean Estate, and associated decants.

 

20.       That the use of retained development and legal consultants be approved as set out in paragraphs 5.6.4 and 5.6.5 of the report to further develop the scheme to enable delivery within NDC grant timescales.

 

Community Facilities (Section 6)

 

21.       To note that as part of the regeneration programme, new and improved community facilities will be provided on the estate.

 

22.       To note that three of the feeder sites set out in paragraph 5.15 (LIFRA Community Hall, Haileybury Centre and 79 Ben Jonson Road) are currently occupied by organisations providing vital community services, and that continuity of provision of accommodation will be protected and built into the timetable for the regeneration programme.

 

Delivery Plan 2007/08 (Section 7)

 

23.       That the draft outline Delivery Plan for 2007/8 be agreed for submission to the Government Office for London, and authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal to effect minor amendments to the text.

 

24.       That interim funding be agreed for the first quarter 2007/8 for a number of projects originally scheduled for continuation (paragraph 7.7).

 

25.       To note that the detailed Delivery Plan will be submitted for Members’ consideration in June 2007.

 

Delivery Arrangements (Section 8)

 

26.       That the revised delivery arrangements for the Ocean NDC programme be agreed in principle as set out in section 8 of the report, and the Cabinet note that the final arrangements will be set out in the report accompanying the detailed delivery plan in June 2007.

 

            Urgency

 

27.       That in accordance with Section 17 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the above decisions 1 to 26 are urgent and may therefore not be subject to call-in.

 

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT & RENEWAL (E. PETERS)

Service Head Resources (C. Holme)

AMENDED AT MAY 2007 CABINET SEE MAY MINUTES.

 

Ms Peters, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, at the request of the Chair introduced the report and addressed the points raised by the deputation from the Ocean Estate Tenants & Leaseholders Association (Agenda item 4); and the response of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (3^rd April 2007) to the Cabinet’s request for consideration and advice on this matter (tabled at Agenda item 6.2(i).    

 

The current report set out proposals for a revised financial model to deliver a  regeneration scheme for the Ocean Estate that would meet the Government’s requirements for access to NDC grant resources and draw in maximum regeneration funding, following the ‘no’ vote to stock transfer.  Ms Peters stressed that once the outline model was agreed, extensive consultation would take place as it was transformed into a detailed scheme.  Further consultation would be undertaken once that scheme reached the Planning stage.  Ms Peters also confirmed that the process for appointing the Ocean Regeneration Trust Board would be in accordance with best practice and Charity Commission requirements; and that a key aim of the Trust would be long term sustainability of the regeneration proposals.

 

Ms Peters answered a number of questions from members of the Cabinet regarding the proposals.  A discussion then took place on the matters set out in the report and raised by the deputation and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

A number of members queried the position regarding the Shahjalal Centre and expressed the wish that the Centre should be fully involved in the regeneration proposals.  Ms Peters confirmed that there was no intention to exclude the Shajalal Centre and that the officers were very keen to work alongside the Centre in developing the scheme.  However in relation to the new financial model it was not possible for the Council to include the Centre in the proposed Trust as the land was not owned by the authority.  Other premises such as the LIFRA Hall were now included as they were Council owned sites.  If the Shajalal Centre itself wished to include its site in the Trust proposals it would be necessary for the Corporate Director to be notified of this in writing. 

 

Councillor Abbas stressed the need for community facilities and related provision to be safeguarded and provided with adequate revenue funding; and for maximum use to be made of any facilities provided for the benefit of the wider community.

 

Councillor Bawden summed up the main points of the discussion and responded as lead Member for Housing and Development.  He considered that there was general agreement on a number of aspects and on the overriding need to achieve the regeneration of the Ocean Estate including an enhanced standard of housing and community facilities; and to access the maximum funding for this purpose.  He endorsed the comments of the Corporate Director in relation to proposed consultation on the detail of the scheme.

 

The Chair pointed out that the report (at paragraphs 5.7 and 5.8) recognised the need for ongoing consultation with key stakeholders across the estate; and that a strategy for consultation with stakeholders would be devised to include a range of consultation opportunities.

 

The Chair referred to the points raised respectively by the deputation and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and asked that officers take these points into account when developing proposals for the next phase of consultation.

 

The Chair then moved an amendment to the recommendations as follows:

 

To add an additional recommendation at 2.2.3.1 ‘To agree that the reprovision of services and facilities will be the subject of consultation with existing service providers and will include consideration of possible reprovision of services and facilities on the site of Haileybury/Dame Colet, as part of any redevelopment scheme’. 

 

This amendment was agreed.

 

The Cabinet further agreed that in accordance with Section 17 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the decisions on this matter are urgent and may therefore not be subject to call-in.  

 

Resolved

 

The Rapid Review Context (Section 4)

 

1.         That the outcome of the Communities and Local Government rapid review and its implications for the Ocean New Deal for Communities programme be noted.

 

2.         That the indicative funding gap with regard to delivery of the regeneration of the Ocean Estate, as identified in paragraphs 4.3 and 5.4 of the report, be noted

 

3.         To note that New Deal for Communities (NDC) grant cannot be utilised to fund a decent homes package (paragraph 4.8).

 

4.         To note that the NDC funding allocated for housing regeneration (£17.4million and for community facilities (£1.8million) is predicated on an alternative regeneration package being identified that will ensure transformational change on the estate.

 

5.         To note that the NDC funding allocated for housing regeneration and community facilities is further dependent on the Council’s housing capital programme allocation (£14.25million) remaining ring-fenced for the Ocean Estate.

 

The Revised Approach to Housing Regeneration (Section 5)

 

6.         That the Regeneration Partnership Approach, as set out in paragraphs 5.4 to 5.10 of the report, provides the optimum approach to             delivering transformational change, in that it enables retained stock to remain within the Council’s control, and tenancies of retained stock to remain secure Council tenancies, while attracting partnership investment funding for both      refurbishment and new build of mixed tenure homes on the estate.

 

7.         To note that the Regeneration Approach is dependent upon a number of “feeder” sites, listed in paragraph 5.15, being placed, when vacated, into a special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

8.         That the feeder sites/buildings listed in paragraph 5.15 be declared surplus to requirements, upon satisfactory relocation of existing service providers where appropriate.

 

9.         To agree that the reprovision of services and facilities will be the subject of consultation with existing service providers and will include consideration of possible reprovision of services and facilities on the site of Haileybury/Dame Colet, as part of any redevelopment scheme’

 

10.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal can transfer the feeder sites, as listed in paragraph 5.15, when vacated, to a special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, at nil consideration.

 

11.       To note that the Regeneration Partnership Approach is further dependent on Urban Block E (Option 1) comprising the blocks listed in paragraph 5.9.1, or          Urban Block E and Urban Block F (Option 2) comprising the blocks listed in paragraphs 5.9.1 and 5.10.1, also being placed, when vacant, into the special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

12.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal can transfer  Urban Block E, or Urban Block E and Urban Block F, when vacant, to the   special purpose vehicle on a long leasehold basis, for nil consideration.

 

13.       To note that Option 2, as set out in paragraph 5.10 is likely to provide the most comprehensive regeneration for the estate, but that both options 1 and 2 be worked up further.

 

14.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal, after consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) and Director of Resources, be authorised to determine the form of procurement for an investment partner, as set out in paragraph 5.6, in accordance with European Union procurement rules and financial regulations.

 

The Vacation of Council Blocks

 

15.       To note that the blocks grouped in Urban Block E, and listed in paragraph 5.9.1 already have decant status.

 

16.       That decant status be granted, with effect from September 2007, for the blocks grouped in Urban Block F and listed in paragraph 5.10.1.

 

17.       That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised to negotiate voluntary buyback of leaseholder interests in Urban Block F, as set out in paragraph 5.17.

 

18.       That a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) be made as set out in paragraph 5.18 of the report, in respect of all interests in the properties listed in paragraph 5.18.3 (Urban Block E), and to include in the CPO any further properties bought under right to buy, prior to the expected date of taking possession under the CPO; and that the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised, after consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) and Director of Resources, to make the CPO and carry out all necessary steps to acquire the properties.

 

Capital Estimates

 

19.       That a capital estimate be adopted to the value of £33.45million, comprising £19.2million NDC grant and £14.25 from the Housing capital programme, for the capital costs arising from the development and delivery of a housing regeneration programme for the Ocean Estate, and associated decants.

 

20.       That the use of retained development and legal consultants be approved as set out in paragraphs 5.6.4 and 5.6.5 of the report to further develop the scheme to enable delivery within NDC grant timescales.

 

Community Facilities (Section 6)

 

21.       To note that as part of the regeneration programme, new and improved community facilities will be provided on the estate.

 

22.       To note that three of the feeder sites set out in paragraph 5.15 (LIFRA Community Hall, Haileybury Centre and 79 Ben Jonson Road) are currently occupied by organisations providing vital community services, and that continuity of provision of accommodation will be protected and built into the timetable for the regeneration programme.

 

Delivery Plan 2007/08 (Section 7)

 

23.       That the draft outline Delivery Plan for 2007/8 be agreed for submission to the Government Office for London, and authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal to effect minor amendments to the text.

 

24.       That interim funding be agreed for the first quarter 2007/8 for a number of projects originally scheduled for continuation (paragraph 7.7).

 

25.       To note that the detailed Delivery Plan will be submitted for Members’ consideration in June 2007.

 

Delivery Arrangements (Section 8)

 

26.       That the revised delivery arrangements for the Ocean NDC programme be agreed in principle as set out in section 8 of the report, and the Cabinet note that the final arrangements will be set out in the report accompanying the detailed delivery plan in June 2007.

 

            Urgency

 

27.       That in accordance with Section 17 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the above decisions 1 to 26 are urgent and may therefore not be subject to call-in.