Issue - meetings

The BCP owned site is currently a staff car park with 27 spaces.

The current proposal presents a new build scheme of 11 apartments and associated parking to be provided on the site.  These homes will help towards imminent new Local Plan housing targets and will also contribute significantly to unmet housing need by delivering Council homes at social rents.

RECOMMENDED that:-

1.      the proposed £2.369m housing scheme be approved for progression to Council for subsequent approval request:

a.                Approval to tender, commencement and completion of build subject to the conditions set out in the Financial Strategy and authorises the Corporate Director for Environment and Community to approve necessary appropriations and contractual and legal agreements in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer.

b.                Approve the financial strategy for the scheme as set out in paragraphs 30 to 52 with specific approval for:

i)      The appropriation of land from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to enable the development of the Council housing valued at £350k.

ii)    £815k of prudential borrowing to be repaid over 50 years used to finance the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) social rented homes.

iii)   The capping of rental income to Social Rent levels.

c.                 the Section 151 Officer be authorised in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to determine the detailed funding arrangements.

d.                 the Corporate Property Officer be authorised in consultation with the Monitoring Officer to agree the detailed contract provisions and to approve entry into the final form agreements.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing

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 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were informed that the BCP owned site is currently a staff car park with 27 spaces, and that the current proposal presents a new build scheme of 11 apartments and associated parking to be provided on the site. 

In relation to this Cabinet were advised that these homes would help towards imminent new Local Plan housing targets and will also contribute significantly to unmet housing need by delivering Council homes at social rents.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet advising that whilst there were no formal recommendations from the Board that extensive discussion had taken place with regards to the value for money element of the scheme as the cost per unit was more than in the market value.

In respect of this the Portfolio Holder advised that if the land was simply sold on and developed outside of the Council that it would not achieve the social rented housing that this scheme would provide.

RECOMMENDED that:-

1.     the proposed £2.369m housing scheme be approved for progression to Council for subsequent approval request:

a.               Approval to tender, commencement and completion of build subject to the conditions set out in the Financial Strategy and authorises the Corporate Director for Environment and Community to approve necessary appropriations and contractual and legal agreements in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer.

b.               Approve the financial strategy for the scheme as set out in paragraphs 30 to 52 with specific approval for:

i)     The appropriation of land from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to enable the development of the Council housing valued at £350k.

ii)   £815k of prudential borrowing to be repaid over 50 years used to finance the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) social rented homes.

iii)   The capping of rental income to Social Rent levels.

c.               the Section 151 Officer be authorised in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to determine the detailed funding arrangements.

d.               the Corporate Property Officer be authorised in consultation with the Monitoring Officer to agree the detailed contract provisions and to approve entry into the final form agreements.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing