Issue - items at meetings - Old Steine and Palace Place appropriation from General Fund to Housing Revenue Account

RESOLVED:

2.1      The Housing Committee:

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it agrees to proceed with Option A (the appropriation and development of a 100% affordable, 11-home housing scheme to meet demand for temporary accommodation).

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it approves a budget of up to £2.660m to be included in the HRA capital programme for 2021/22 financed by HRA borrowing, right to buy Receipts, general capital receipts and HRA reserves.

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities to appropriate 62-63 Old Steine & 3-4 Palace Place from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account and agrees that the General Fund is compensated by £0.890m.

2.2      The Policy & Resources Committee:

Agrees to proceed with Option A (the appropriation and development of a 100% affordable, 11-home housing scheme to meet demand for temporary accommodation).

Approves a budget of up to £2.660m to be included in the HRA capital

programme for 2021/22 financed by HRA borrowing, right to buy Receipts, general capital receipts and HRA reserves.

Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities to appropriate 62-63 Old Steine & 3-4 Palace Place from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account and agrees that the General Fund is compensated by £0.890m.

9.1      The Head of Housing Repairs & Improvement introduced the report to the committee.

          Questions

9.2      Councillor Williams was informed that the engagement process in July would include vulnerable people and the engagement process would be on going through out the development of the site. Lettings will be carried out carefully through the management plan and security will be installed via CCTV.

9.3      Councillor Meadows was informed that the building was considered to be dilapidated at the moment. The building has been within the council ownership for some time and the condition will be looked at via a full structural survey. The structural survey report, confirming the building to be acceptable, will be shared with the committee. The alleyway to the rear of the building will be looked at in the near future and will be covered by the local letting plan. CCTV will be around the whole building. It was noted that the General Fund will receive money back from the project. The build costs and price of the property are included in the £2.660m stated in the recommendations. The high costs will be reflected in the high quality of the units in development.

          Debate

9.4      Councillor Williams stated they supported the recommendations.

9.5      Councillor Meadows noted there was a shortage of materials due to the pandemic and the costs were going up. The councillor requested that the build is looked at carefully with regard to costs.

9.6      Councillor Gibson stated that each unit in the development would cost approximately £240,000 and they would be constructed to a high standard. The councillor hoped the units would not cost more. The councillor supported the recommendations.

          Vote

9.7      A vote was taken, and by a vote of 2 to 1 the committee agreed the recommendations.

RESOLVED:

2.1      The Housing Committee:

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it agrees to proceed with Option A (the appropriation and development of a 100% affordable, 11-home housing scheme to meet demand for temporary accommodation).

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it approves a budget of up to £2.660m to be included in the HRA capital programme for 2021/22 financed by HRA borrowing, right to buy Receipts, general capital receipts and HRA reserves.

Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities to appropriate 62-63 Old Steine & 3-4 Palace Place from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account and agrees that the General Fund is compensated by £0.890m.

2.2      The Policy & Resources Committee:

Agrees to proceed with Option A (the appropriation and development of a 100% affordable, 11-home housing scheme to meet demand for temporary accommodation).

Approves a budget of up to £2.660m to be included in the HRA capital

programme for 2021/22 financed by HRA borrowing, right to buy Receipts, general capital receipts and HRA reserves.

Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities to appropriate 62-63 Old Steine & 3-4 Palace Place from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account and agrees that the General Fund is compensated by £0.890m.