Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced a report on proposals to compulsory purchase properties in the River ward area.

The Cabinet Member explained that the properties had been empty for approximately 10 years and the owner had resisted numerous approaches from the Council aimed at enabling the properties to be returned for habitable use.  The Director of Housing confirmed that the sale of the units to a Registered Social Housing Provider was one of three options for future use, although the first option to be assessed would be the viability of retaining the properties via the Housing Revenue Account.

Arising from the discussions:

·  Members were asked to provide the Director of Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing with details of other eyesore properties in the Borough which they believed should be pursued through the compulsory purchase route; and

·  Officers were asked to ensure that, in future, owners of eyesore properties are ‘named and shamed’ once the legal processes have been completed as a way of publicising the Council’s determination to deal with irresponsible private homeowners.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the compulsory purchase of the eyesore properties referred to in the report, utilising the Council’s powers under section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to approve the terms and conditions of the acquisition of the properties and either their retention for use as Council properties via the Housing Revenue Account or their subsequent disposal to a registered provider or at auction.