Decisions

This report outlines feasibility work undertaken to date and outlines a proposal for a pilot study to be brought forward, with approval sought for an associated budget.

This item was chaired by Councillor Robertson (Vice-Chair Councillor).

Matter for Decision

The report sought approval for a budget to support pilot feasibility work for rooftop development at Lichfield Road (243 - 313 Odds) and Walpole Road (1-12 Bracondale, 1-18 Fernwood, 1-18 Heatherfield).

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Noted the selection of the sheltered housing schemes at Lichfield Road (243 - 313 Odds) and Walpole Road ( 1-12 Bracondale, 1-18 Fernwood, 1-18 Heatherfield) as approved candidates for pilot scheme consideration.

     ii.          Approved the bringing forward of pilot feasibility studies through a specialist and OJEU complaint Procurement Framework.

   iii.          Approved that a revenue budget of £190,000 be identified to support feasibility work, with this budget bid subject to approval in the forthcoming November 2023 Mid Term Financial Strategy.

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 (Places Group)

The Assistant Director Development (Places Group) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.    Noted that some of the sheltered housing schemes had poor accessibility. One of the options being considered was that the rooftop development consisted of further sheltered housing, but this was one of the questions to be explored through the feasibility scheme - whether alternative housing could be provided.

ii.  The pilot only involved tenanted accommodation there was the potential that this could be expanded to mixed tenured blocks (i.e., to include leaseholders).

iii. The pilot would include a carbon assessment, which would include how far the development could go towards ‘net zero’.

iv.Officers would need to engage with residents to understand their needs and circumstances. The Council had their own in-house Occupation Therapist who would assist Officers to consider residents’ needs.

v.  A pilot scheme helps officers to understand what issues could arise with rooftop developments.

vi.The Council’s Independent Living Service could also assist with consultation and engagement with vulnerable residents.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

This item was chaired by Councillor Pounds (Chair).

Matter for Decision

The report sought approval to proceed with a mixed tenure scheme at 12-30b Fanshawe Road. This was known as Option B in a report which was taken to Housing Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2022.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Approved that a mixed tenure scheme be brought forward in line with the design proposals set out in the Officer’s report.

     ii.          Authorised the Assistant Director for Assets and Property 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.

   iii.          Authorised the Assistant Director for Assets and Property in consultation with the Executive Councillor to approve the transfer of the land known as 12-30b Fanshawe Road and shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 2, to Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) for redevelopment. This transfer will be at a value provided by a further independent valuation, which will also be approved by CIP Board as detailed in the financial appraisal set out in Appendix 1. The HRA land receipt will be incorporated at the minimum value suggested in the appraisal until final valuation has been received.

   iv.          Authorised the Assistant Director for Assets and Property in consultation with the Executive Councillor to approve the Affordable Housing Agreement with CIP for the 45 affordable homes. This agreement would be at a value provided by an independent valuer, to be approved by CIP Board as detailed in the financial appraisal set out in Appendix 1. This would mean an amended and reduced budget of £13.0m from £28.5m including decant costs and other on costs. This budget to be brought forward in the forthcoming November 2023 Mid Term Financial Strategy.

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 (Places Group).

The Assistant Director Development (Places Group) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.    9 x 3 bed-flats were proposed within the Fanshawe Road scheme.

ii.  Ward Councillors would be consulted before a planning application was submitted.

iii. Future update reports for the housing delivery programme could report information based on the number of bedrooms a property had.

Councillor Martinelli proposed and Councillor Bennett seconded an amendment to recommendation ii of the Officer’s report (additional text underlined,

     ii.          Authorise the Assistant Director for Assets and Property in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness, opposition spokespersons and chair of Housing Scrutiny Committee to approve variations to the scheme including the number of units, tenure, mix of property types and sizes outlined in this report.

The amendment was lost by 3 votes in favour to 6 votes against.

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 0 with 3 abstentions to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

This item was chaired by Councillor Pounds (Chair).

Matter for Decision

This was a regular quarterly report detailing progress on the City Council’s new housing development programme.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Noted the continued progress on the delivery of the approved housing programme.

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 (Places Group). It was noted that a correction was required to section 11 of the report; the East Barnwell report would be brought to the November Housing Scrutiny Committee. 

The Assistant Director Development (Places Group) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Would check if the redevelopment at St Thomas Road comprised 7 or 8 houses and if the property on the corner was included within the redevelopment.

     ii.          Reference was made to the risk register in section 10 of the officer’s report and advised that since a final decision had not been approved for Ekin Road there was no scheme against which a risk rating for re-housing residents could be given. Other schemes had already had tenants re-housed elsewhere that was why the risk had been assessed as low.

   iii.          Officers had written to residents and commercial tenants regarding the East Barnwell community centre. There had been a delay to ensure that due diligence regarding finances had been undertaken. It was hoped that a planning application would be submitted in November.

   iv.          Officers hoped to be able to provide further information regarding the nursery in the East Barnwell report going which was due to go to the November Housing Scrutiny Committee.  

The Committee resolved by 7 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

To note the Housing Ombudsman finding.

This item was chaired by Diana Minns (Vice-Chair Tenant Representative).

Matter for Decision

The report referred to an Ombudsman’s report where a finding of a fault in response to a housing related service had been made against the Council.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Noted the information contained within the Officer’s report.

     ii.          Approved the remedial actions outlined and measures established to reduce or eliminate the risk of repeat mistakes in future cases.

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 Group Manager

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

Update on work being undertaken to consider regeneration opportunities at Ekin Road Housing Estate, Abbey Ward.

This item was chaired by Councillor Pounds (Chair).

Matter for Decision

The report brought forward an update on the Options Appraisal work at Ekin Road estate.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Noted the completion of Stage 1 of the options appraisal for Ekin Road.

     ii.          Noted the proposals for further consultation with residents in the course of Stage 2.

   iii.          Approved the progress to Stage 2 of the options appraisal on the basis of the criteria and the options set out in the Stage 1 report.

   iv.          Approved that a revenue budget of £300,000 be identified to support this further Stage 2 options appraisal work.

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 of Development.

The Assistant Director Development (Places Group) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.    The retrofit option was not an easy option as it would depend what works were being carried out as to whether residents would need to move out of their property for a period of time.

ii.  A decision also needed to be taken regarding what standard of retrofit would be considered.

iii. The budget set aside in recommendation 4 may or may not be spent. Sufficient budget needed to be set aside so that each option could be taken forward and funded.

iv.It was possible that if a decision was taken to redevelop Ekin Road, residents may be able to be rehoused at East Barnwell, if that redevelopment went ahead on time. This was dependent on a number of factors including planning approval.

v.  Noted that the City wanted to achieve ‘net zero’ and a balance needed to be struck between operational carbon and embodied carbon. 

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

Councillor Pounds left the meeting before the start of this item and Councillor Robertson as Vice-Chair (Councillor) chaired the rest of the meeting.

Matter for Decision

The report sought approval for a capital budget to purchase thirty-two affordable units at Eddeva Park, Worts’ Causeway from This Land for rent as Council homes.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.          Approved the purchase of 32 new Council homes at the Eddeva Park, Worts’ Causeway and delegate Authority to the Assistant Director of Asset and Property to approve contract terms with This LandTM in respect of this transaction.

     ii.          Delegated authority to the Assistant Director to vary rental tenures in line with Council Policy and planning consents for the Eddeva Park Affordable Housing.

   iii.          Approved a total budget of £8,021,000.00 to enable the development of 32 homes at the Eddeva Park, Worts’ Causeway, with this budget bid subject to approval in the forthcoming November 2023 Mid Term Financial Strategy.

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 (Places Group).

The Assistant Director Development (Places Group) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.    Community provision which arose as a result of planning permission granted on the site did not form part of this report. The Newbury Farm purchase by the Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) included community provision within the section 106 agreement. This could be provided on-site or off-site.

ii.  Negotiations were underway to purchase the affordable housing units from This Land. Some issues had been raised regarding road access which needed to be resolved. There would also need to be a Deed of Variation to the s106 agreement to change the affordable units from shared ownership to affordable rent. 

iii. Parking design / ratios was something that officers were looking at. Felt the site was quite well served by public transport and cycling routes. The amount of community provision and commercial provision would have been based on Planning requirements.

iv.Noted concerns expressed by Councillors regarding community facility provision.  

The Committee resolved by 5 votes in favour to 0 against and 3 abstentions to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.