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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.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Jaques van der Vyver
Recommended variations to scheme as approved.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Ben Binns
Regular update on the delivery of new council homes under the 500 programme, together with an update on the work being undertaken to deliver the 2022-32 10yr new build housing programme.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Ben Binns
To note the Housing Ombudsman finding.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Sean Cleary
Update on work being undertaken to consider regeneration opportunities at Ekin Road Housing Estate, Abbey Ward.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Jim Pollard
Approval for acquisition of affordable housing into council stock.
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing
Decision published: 26/01/2024
Effective from: 19/09/2023
Decision:
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.
Lead officer: Ben Binns