Acquisition of Residential Accommodation
Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED:
That Cabinet:
1) Agrees to progress negotiations to acquire the residential accommodation in Hayes, as set out in the report, in line with the Council’s agreed policy and budget strategy to acquire 500 new affordable homes over the next three years. The purchase to be subject to a satisfactory survey outcome, robust due diligence which supports the subsequent recommendation to purchase and a successful grant allocation from the GLA.
2) Delegates authority to the Corporate Director, Central Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Portfolio Holders, to negotiate the terms of the purchase, including the purchase price with the vendor of the accommodation and to make all necessary decisions in respect of the due diligence work required in support of this, prior to any final decision on the purchase of the accommodation.
3) Release funds of up to £100k to undertake the necessary due diligence activities from the Housing Revenue Account budget.
4) Instruct officers to actively progress external grant funding applications as a contribution towards the purchase price of the accommodation.
5) Instruct officers to prepare a Lettings Plan for the accommodation, should the purchase proceed, to ensure effective letting and management arrangements are in place, and for subsequent approval by the Leader of the Council and relevant Cabinet Members.
6) Subject to the satisfactory outcome of the due diligence, applications for grant funding and purchase price negotiations, delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Cabinet Member for Finance to make the final decision on any acquisition and any further decisions that may be required for completing the purchase and future use of the site for housing purposes.
7) Request that the Chair of the Residents’ Services Select Committee considers waiving the scrutiny call-in period on these recommendations due to the urgency reasons set out in the report.
Reasons for decision
Introduced by the Leader of the Council, Cabinet considered an urgent report in respect of the potential acquisition of a property in Hayes to support the Council’s housing objectives. Cabinet provided the necessary delegated authority to progress and consider the matter further.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Alternative options were set out in the confidential report.
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Relevant Select Committee |
Residents’ Services |
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Expiry date for any scrutiny call-in / date decision can be implemented (if no call-in) |
These decisions cannot be called in and take immediate effect following the approval, following the Cabinet meeting, to waive the scrutiny call-in period by the Chair of the Residents’ Services Select Committee. |
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Officer(s) to action |
Dan Kennedy |
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Directorate |
Central Services |
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Classification |
Private - Whilst the Cabinet's decisions above are always made public, the officer report relating to this matter is not because it was considered in the private part of the meeting and 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 in accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
Urgency provisions – The Leader of the Council agreed the report relating to this decision as an urgent item. This decision was taken under special urgency provisions in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. |