Issue - meetings

Appendix 4 to the report contains exempt information during which the public is likely to be excluded from the meeting subject to determination by the Scrutiny Committee following consideration of a public interest test. This exclusion would be made under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Matter for Decision

Report on the redevelopment scheme at Ekin Road.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Noted the completion of JLL Final Report (Stages 2 and 2b) of the options appraisal for Ekin Road.

    ii.         Approved that a mixed tenure scheme be brought forward, and a planning application submitted in line with the emerging design proposals set out in the officer report for the redevelopment of the Ekin Road estate excluding the 14 houses to the south of the estate. The development of the proposals to include further engagement with residents of the estate.

   iii.         Authorised the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing to approve variations to the scheme including the number of units, tenure, mix of property types and sizes outlined in the officer’s report.

  iv.         Authorised the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor to approve the transfer of the land known as Ekin Road and Ekin Walk (excluding nos. 33-59 odd Ekin Road and 1 – 6 Ekin Close) and shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 1, to Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) for redevelopment. The transfer would be at a value provided by a further independent valuation.

    v.         Authorised the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor to approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with CIP for the purchase of 64 affordable homes. This agreement would be at a value provided by an independent valuer.

  vi.         Approved draw down of a budget of £19,859,734 from the budget approved for the delivery of new homes, to fund the purchase of the affordable homes and associated development costs including on costs, the purchase of freehold and leasehold properties and the costs of decant for residents of the estates.

 vii.         Approved giving 82 affected council tenants required to decant the highest priority on the Council's choice-based lettings system (Home-Link).  The emergency banding status would be applied to all existing secure tenant applications from 18 June 2024.

viii.         Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take steps preparatory to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect of any Leasehold and Freehold properties required in order to deliver the scheme.

  ix.         Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to make a CPO in respect of any leasehold or freehold interests that cannot be acquired by private treaty within a reasonable timescale and at a reasonable cost subject to the Chief Operating Officer being satisfied that there is a compelling case in the public interest for the use of compulsory purchase powers, and that all legal and policy requirements for the making and confirmation of a CPO have been met;

    x.         Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985.

  xi.         Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to investigate and approve a scheme of works to improve the seven Council owned properties that would be retained.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Assistant Director (Development).

 

The Assistant Director (Development) and Assistant Director for Housing and Homelessness said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         The Council would continue to apply for grant funding from Homes England. The success of the 500 homes programme was based on less stringent grant arrangements compared to grant arrangements which were in place now. Detail was included within the officer report around what it was believed the rent levels would be. There was a chance to try and increase the number of affordable homes on the development. Further work was required with the Planning Department.

    ii.         The fourteen homes along the south were the more straight forward to remove from the application site. Within the middle of the officer report and as part of the appendix to the JLL report there was a separate summary by the architect which looked at the four clusters of housing and their constraints. The scheme needed to balance the right mix of homes, open space, and other associated planning considerations.

   iii.         The council learned things from every redevelopment scheme. For this scheme it was important to consider the impact of the redevelopment proposals on the community as a whole and not just the residents included within the ‘red line’ development site. ‘Place based’ communication was key as well as genuine and meaningful engagement and consultation. Difficult choices had to be made when considering redevelopment of the council’s housing stock.

  iv.         Consultants were employed to provide independent and specialist advice.

    v.         Tenants had a statutory legal right to return to the estate following any redevelopment. In previous experience it was found that most tenants didn’t return as moving twice in a short period of time was a lot.

  vi.         If redevelopment was approved, then construction traffic would be controlled via the planning system.

 vii.         Where major refurbishment works were required to council properties and it was not possible for residents to remain in the property whilst works were undertaken, tenants could be decanted temporarily into alternative accommodation. There was financial assistance available in these circumstances to help with the temporary move, but this was different to the statutory home loss payment, which would not apply.

viii.         Officers had met with three council tenants the previous evening and would work with them to keep them together should redevelopment be approved.

  ix.         As far as officers were aware on previous redevelopments where decanting had taken place, only one council tenant had advised that they would want to return if redevelopment took place.

 

 

Cllr Tong proposed the following amendments to recommendations, deleted text struckthrough, additional text underlined.

 

Councillor Martinelli seconded the amendments to enable votes to be taken on the amendments.

 

Amended recommendations

2.2 Approve that a mixed tenure scheme be brought forward, and a planning application submitted in line with the emerging design proposals set out in this report for the redevelopment of the Ekin Road estate excluding the 14 houses to the south of the estate and the 6 houses on the north-east corner of the estate. The development of the proposals to include further engagement with residents of the estate. 

 

2.3 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for housing, Chair and Spokes to approve variations to the scheme including the number of units, tenure, mix of property types and sizes outlined in this report. 

 

2.4 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Spokes to approve the transfer of the land known as Ekin Road and Ekin Walk (excluding nos. 33-59 odd Ekin Road, 13-23 odd Ekin Road, and 1 – 6 Ekin Close) and shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 1, to Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) for redevelopment. The transfer will be at a value provided by a further independent valuation.

 

2.5 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Spokes to approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with CIP for the purchase of 64 affordable homes. This agreement will be at a value provided by an independent valuer.

 

2.8 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take steps preparatory to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect of any Leasehold and Freehold properties required in order to deliver the scheme. Hab 

  

2.10 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985. 

 

2.11 to serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985. 

 

2.121 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to investigate and approve a scheme of works to improve the seven eleven Council owned properties that will be retained.

 

The proposed amendments to the recommendations were lost by:

2.2 – 1 vote in favour, 6 against and 2 abstentions

2.3 – 3 votes in favour, 6 against

2.4 – 1 vote in favour, 6 against and 2 abstentions

2.5 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against

2.8 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against

2.10 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against

2.11 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations:

i. 2.1, 2.7 and 2.12 unanimously

ii. 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11 by 8 votes in favour, 0 against and 1 abstention.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.