Issue - meetings

(a)       Report of the Head of Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services.

(b)       Report of the Head of Planning and Environment Services on the Future Use of the Premises.

The Cabinet considered a petition relating to Hamilton House Supported Housing Scheme, Sidemoor, together with an accompanying report on future use of the premises.  Councillor D. Pardoe, who had presented the petition at the meeting of the Council on 18th July 2007, was present and spoke on the matter.

Whilst supporting the recommendations detailed in the report on future use of the premises, it was agreed that officers should report back to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Mrs. J. E. Dyer and the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing as to how it was envisaged that the condition for no more than two units at any time to be allocated as temporary accommodation, would work in practice.       

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the contents of petition be noted;

(b)       that the Council owned premises known as 15, 15a, 17 and 17a York Road no longer be leased to Bromford Housing Group for the purposes of providing a supported housing scheme for younger people and that reasonable notice be given to enable the closure of the scheme and appropriate re-location of residents currently housed at Hamilton House;

(c)        that, subject to the comments detailed in the preamble above in relation to temporary accommodation, approval be given to the principle of the accommodation being returned to four self contained one bedroomed flats for management by a partner Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and allocation to general needs or homeless clients subject to a condition that no more than two units at any time may be allocated as temporary accommodation;

(d)       that the Council’s partner RSLs be invited to submit innovative proposals to purchase or lease the premises for management and allocation on the basis set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report, at a cost that would enable them to cross subsidise a scheme of bringing back into use empty flats over shops in the district for letting as dispersed temporary accommodation for younger homeless people; and

(e)       that, subject to a suitable scheme being proposed by an RSL, the Head of Planning and Environment and the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, be granted delegated authority to sell or transfer the dwellings at a peppercorn rent or capital receipt that represents market, below market or zero value.