Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Heads of Environmental and Community Health Services and of Housing Services regarding the acquisition of residential property by compulsory purchase powers.

  Authorised the Director of Operational Services to appoint Environmental Health Officers and Environmental Health Enforcement Officers to exercise the powers of entry set out in Section 54 of the Housing Act 1985 and Section 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the purpose of survey or examination of property to determine if Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers should be exercised or progressed, requested further reports to Cabinet addressing those properties considered suitable for CPO, the case for CPO, the statement of reasons and a draft CPO.  Authorised the Head of Environment and Community Health Services to submit orders approved by the Cabinet to the Secretary of State for confirmation and to complete the CPO procedure and the Head of Housing Services to seek a developer prepared to take over any property acquired by CPO from the Council at the established market value and that any transfer of ownership be on these terms; and agreed that the cost of a CPO procedure, estimated at £21.6k per property, be funded from the Repairs Assistance budget subject to a maximum of two acquirements per annum.

By way of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health and of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the principle of invoking compulsory purchase powers to acquire long-term vacant residential properties where there appeared to be no other prospect of them being brought back into residential use.

Having considered the content of the report, the financial implications associated with acquiring property and the recommended procedure to be followed, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Director of Operational Services be authorised to appoint Environmental Health Officers and Environmental Health Enforcement Officers to exercise the powers of entry set out in Section 54 of the

  Housing Act 1985 and Section 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the

  purpose of survey or examination to determine if Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers

  should be exercised or progressed;

  (b)  that further reports be submitted to Cabinet as necessary addressing those properties considered suitable for compulsory purchase, the case for compulsory purchase, the statement of reasons and a draft CPO;

  (c)  that the Head of Environment and Community Health Services be authorised to submit orders approved by

  Cabinet to the Secretary of State for confirmation and then to complete the CPO procedure;

  (d)  that the Head of Housing Services be requested to seek a developer prepared to take over any property

  acquired by CPO from the Council at the established market value and to transfer ownership on

  those terms; and

(e)  that the cost of a CPO procedure, estimated at £21.6k per property, be funded from the Repairs Assistance budget subject to a maximum of two acquisitions per annum.