Agenda item

(The Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-018-2013/14).

1.         That, should any of the development sites identified for Council housebuilding not be developable because:

(i)      They do not receive planning permission;

(ii)      They are not financially viable for the Council to develop based on a development appraisal; or

(iii)     The Cabinet Committee considers for whatever reason, the site should not be developed for Council housing,

Officers be authorised to consider the following options and submit a separate report to the Cabinet Committee to determine the future use of the site:

a.         To sell the site for social housing to a housing association in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding and to gain nomination rights for Council housing applicants;

b.         To sell the site for private development, either for residential or other use in return for a capital receipt to fund future  Council housebuilding;

c.         To divide up the site and sell the land to local residents to extend their private gardens in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding;

d.         To demolish the garages, re-surface and mark out the land and to leave the site as open car parking for local residents;

e.         To sell the site to a Town or Parish Council for their own purposes (eg. public amenity space) in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding; and

f.          To continue to market and rent the garages to local residents; and

2.         That the Cabinet Committee recommends to the Leader of the Council that the Terms of Reference for the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee be varied to empower the Cabinet Committee to determine the future use of garages sites and other Council owned land previously identified and approved by the Cabinet for possible Council housebuilding.

The Assistant Director (Housing Property and Development) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee regarding the approach to be taken in respect of sites in the area that are not deemed appropriate for development by the Council. He advised that the Council’s Development Agent was required to undertake a feasibility study for each of the 65 garage and other surplus sites included on the list of potential development garage sites approved by the Cabinet. The future use of any site considered either unsuitable or financially unviable, or not receiving planning permission, would need to be considered and it was considered helpful for a general Policy to be agreed in advance. Following previous informal consultation with the Cabinet Committee, the report set out the proposed approach the Council should take where sites are found to be unsuitable for Council housebuilding.

Decisions:

1.         That, should any of the potential development sites identified for Council housebuilding not be developable because:

(i)      They do not receive planning permission;

(ii)      They are not financially viable for the Council to develop based on a development appraisal; or

(iii)     The Cabinet Committee considers, for whatever reason, the site should not be developed for Council housing;

Officers be authorised to consider the following options and submit a separate report to the Cabinet Committee to determine the future use of the site:

a.         To sell the site for social housing to a housing association in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding and to gain nomination rights for Council housing applicants;

b.         To sell the site for private development, either for residential or other use in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding;

c.         To divide up the site and sell the land to local residents to extend their private gardens in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding;

d.         To demolish the garages, re-surface and mark out the land and to leave the site as open car parking for local residents;

e.         To sell the site to a Town or Parish Council for their own purposes (eg. public amenity space) in return for a capital receipt to fund future Council housebuilding; and

f.          To continue to market and rent the garages to local residents; and

2.         That the Cabinet Committee recommends to the Leader of the Council that the Terms of Reference for the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee be varied to empower the Cabinet Committee to determine the future use of garages sites and other Council owned land previously identified and approved by the Cabinet for possible Council housebuilding, where the Cabinet Committee agrees that development is not appropriate.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Cabinet has agreed to consider the development potential of 65 garage sites, and development would always be subject to feasibility, financial viability and planning approval. Where sites are not developable, then their future use must be considered to maximise the Council’s benefit of the Asset.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To agree any other option for the future use of the sites as the Cabinet Committee deemed suitable.