Issue - meetings

Comments from the Social Services, Health and Housing Policy Overview Committee on this item were considered by the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet:

1. Noted that:

(a) the Council has been successful in attracting £15.1m Social Housing Grant and borrowing approval which will enable a number of HRA Pipeline sites to proceed on a self financing basis to produce 50 units for rent for local people and;

(b) this funding will also enable the re-development of Triscott House sheltered housing unit to produce a 45 unit extra care scheme for local elderly people on a similar self financing basis without the need for the Council to contribute its own capital resources, which will also help to mitigate the need for future adult social care residential revenue expenditure.

2. Agreed that the New Build Programme proceeds on sites that have been identified for rented housing, subject to the usual consultation processes, and approve that officers enter into a Grant Agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency which sets out the terms and conditions of the grant as well as the rights and obligations of both parties and allows us to draw down funding.

3. Approved that officers enter into contracts using the Royal Institute of British Architects Standard Form of Appointment up to a maximum value of £60,000 for the Architect, and using the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Standard Form of Appointment £85,000 for the Employer’s Agent and £5,700 for the CDM Co-ordinator for the Triscott House redevelopment and that these amounts are funded from HRA balances.

4 Approved that officers enter into contracts using the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Standard Form of Appointment with up to a maximum value of £96,750 for the Employer’s Agent and £7,500 for the CDM Co-ordinator for the HRA Pipeline projects.

5. Approve that, where it is not feasible to proceed with an individual site due to matters that may arise during the planning, design or construction process, that suitable alternative schemes are substituted into the programme as a replacement, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Services, Health and Housing.

6. Agreed that officers will, in conjunction with the Major Projects Team, conduct a tender under the European Procurement regime to obtain construction services for the HRA Pipeline Projects and Extra Care Scheme redevelopment.

7. Approved, on a self financing basis from HRA rents, the borrowing of any residual funds to pay for scheme costs not covered by HCA Grant Funding or available HRA capital receipts over a 40 year period in line with the Council’s prudential code.

8. Agreed to withdraw the exempt nature of relevant parts of the report solely for Officers of the Council to use to provide public information about this initiative and for other related purposes.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet made the above decisions to take advantage of the award of £15.1m of capital resources made available to Hillingdon by way of Social Housing Grant and borrowing approvals which would enable the Council’s New Build programme to proceed on a self financing basis.

Cabinet’s decision would deploy further inward investment in the Borough, improve the environment by redeveloping sites that are vandalised, derelict underused or misused, target anti-social behaviour, improve access to good quality housing for local people, meet the needs of older people by redeveloping some sites to provide homes specifically for them and to deliver more sites for Low Cost Home Ownership.

At the meeting, the Cabinet also resolved to withdraw the exemption status of relevant sections of the report purely for Council Officers to undertake publicity and related activities.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to enter into an agreement and declined the £15.1m funding that was on offer. Alternatively, Cabinet could have appointed a Registered Social Landlord to act as an agent to draw down funding and build out the scheme.

Officer to action:

Mazhar Ali, Adult Social Care, Health & Housing

Exempt Information

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.