Issue - meetings

This report provides an update of the current position in respect of Project Admiral with particular reference to the need to consider Leaseholder Representations following section 20 consultation. It makes recommendations in respect of the position of leaseholders following the consultation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)        approves the recommendations set out in the confidential report; and

(b)        Offers to repurchase a limited number of properties as set out in Option 4, and delegates authority to the Director of Housing in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer to decide which properties will be repurchased further to this decision.

Voting: Unanimous

REASONS

In respect of recommendation (a) the reasons are set out in the confidential report.

In respect of recommendation (b), the option to repurchase a limited number of properties would allow the Council to obtain some much needed social housing stock within this area, while linking this to current demand. The use of the prioritisation approach would allow this approach to be targeted at those leaseholders most in need of support.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'M' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were updated on the current position in respect of Project Admiral with particular reference to the need to consider Leaseholder Representations following section 20 consultation.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board reported that the Board, at its meeting on 9 September 2019 made the following recommendations in respect of the item:

(a)  Cabinet should carefully consider the recommendations as set out in the report and the options set out in the exempt part of the report.

(b)  Cabinet be advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Board do not support Recommendation B on the grounds of fairness to leasholders due to there only being a small number of properties able to be re-purchased, of fairness to the rest of BCP Council’s tenants and to those on the Council’s Housing Registers due to the way in which it is proposed to use HRA finances to support the recommendations as set out in the report.

A Councillor in attendance raised concerns with regards to the buy back arrangements stressing that the value would need to take in to account the proposed maintenance costs and could potentially present negative equity.

Cabinet were advised that the District Valuer would depress the value of the property based on the fact that there was a maintenance bill to be paid, however the properties would appreciate in value once the work had been carried out.

Following discussion on the recommendations contained within the confidential part of the report, the meeting proceeded back into open session for the discussion regarding the buy back of properties, the summing up from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and the vote on the recommendations below.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)        approves the recommendations set out in the confidential report; and

(b)        Offers to repurchase a limited number of properties as set out in Option 4, and delegates authority to the Director of Housing in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer to decide which properties will be repurchased further to this decision.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing