Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Executive Member for Housing and Benefits.

RESOLVED: that

1.     The updated forecast expenditure and income for the scheme be accepted and approved.

2.     The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the:

·       Head of Finance

·       Head of Legal and Governance

·       Executive Member for Housing & Benefits

·       Executive Member for Finance

·       Executive Member for Investments and Companies

a)  To enter into a contract to build with the recommended contractor.

b)  To appoint and enter into contracts (as required) with any remaining

consultants or suppliers to allow the contract to progress to completion including unit sales.

c)  Enter into an agreement with the chosen Housing Association for the transferral of affordable housing units.

d)  To amend the tenure mix at a later stage (as required) with up to a maximum of 100% of the scheme being retained by the Council with a condition that the scheme expenditure remains within the approved capital budget of £6,448,000 as detailed within the exempt report in Part 2 of the agenda.

3.  The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the:

·       Head of Legal & Governance

·       Executive Member for Housing & Benefits

·       Executive Member for Finance

·       Executive Member for Investment and Companies

a)  To enter into any Easements, Licences, Covenants or Wayleaves as required on the development.

b)  Complete Party Wall agreements as required on the development.

c)  Authorise the sale of new homes on this development

The Executive Member for Housing and Benefits, Councillor Knight, introduced the report and explained that the Pitwood Park Development was an important regeneration opportunity for the Council-owned site. The site had previously been identified by the Executive as a priority site for meeting local housing need. Due to an indefinite postponement to Starter Homes secondary legislation by Central Government, the tenure mix previously agreed in April 2018 needed to be revised.

Councillor Knight thanked officers for their hard work and Executive Members for their patience throughout the project.

In response to an observation from a Visiting Member it was confirmed that the Pitwood Park Development site is in the Tattenham Corner and Preston Ward and not in the Lower Kingswood, Tadworth and Walton Ward as was shown on the report.

The Leader of the Council advised that there was an exempt report relating to this item, at item 12. Item 5 was adjourned so that the exempt information relating to the item could be considered under item 12.

During the exempt discussion, the following issues were considered:

·         Future amendments to the tenure mix

·         Staff resources

·         Matters in relation to the Housing Association

On consideration of the information at item 12, the Executive returned to the recommendations at item 5 and;

RESOLVED that:

1.    The updated forecast expenditure and income for the scheme be accepted and approved.

2.    The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the:

·         Head of Finance

·         Head of Legal and Governance

·         Executive Member for Housing & Benefits

·         Executive Member for Finance

·         Executive Member for Investments and Companies

a)   To enter into a contract to build with the recommended contractor.

b)   To appoint and enter into contracts (as required) with any remaining

consultants or suppliers to allow the contract to progress to completion including unit sales.

c)   Enter into an agreement with the chosen Housing Association for the transferral of affordable housing units.

d)   To amend the tenure mix at a later stage (as required) with up to a maximum of 100% of the scheme being retained by the Council with a condition that the scheme expenditure remains within the approved capital budget of £6,448,000 as detailed within the exempt report in Part 2 of the agenda.

3.   The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the:

·         Head of Legal & Governance

·         Executive Member for Housing & Benefits

·         Executive Member for Finance

·         Executive Member for Investment and Companies

a)   To enter into any Easements, Licences, Covenants or Wayleaves as required on the development.

b)  Complete Party Wall agreements as required on the development.

c)  Authorise the sale of new homes on this development

Reason for decision: In April 2018 the Executive approved a report seeking permission to proceed with a mixed tenure development of 25 houses and flats together with associated external works at Pitwood Park. The report provided information on the projected financial return to be expected from the sale of the new homes. Starter Homes secondary legislation from Central Government has not been issued and, as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95