Issue - meetings

(The Chair agreed that the report could be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency under the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.)

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented a report on the proposed use of two Council-owned sites for the provision of new build bungalows suitable for occupation by older people.

The Cabinet Member advised that the projects at the former Wood Lane Sports Centre, Wood Lane, and former Lawns older people’s home, Rainham Road North, would provide a mix of approximately 40 x one and two bedroom bungalows to help meet the demand for smaller, single-level accommodation amongst the Borough’s elderly tenants which, in turn, would release larger, under-occupied Council homes for families on the Council’s waiting list. 

The Cabinet Member referred to the development restrictions associated with the two sites which were within designated Green Belt areas and the associated financial and design considerations that had been taken into account.  The projects would be funded via the Housing Capital Investment Programme and a detailed report on the next five years’ rolling programme would be presented to the next Cabinet meeting, but the report had been brought forward to today’s Cabinet meeting in order for the projects to be commenced as soon as possible, with an ambitious completion target of June 2013.  The Leader of the Council reported that arrangements were in hand for the Wood Lane development to be named in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Adult Services welcomed the proposal and suggested that in addition to housing elderly residents the developments could also provide much needed accommodation for disabled residents.  Furthermore, a greater focus on the number of two bedroom and family-sized bungalows at both schemes would cater for disabled people with families and enable elderly residents to have family and other visitors stay overnight.  The Cabinet Member for Environment also spoke in favour of the proposal and the need for good management arrangements to be in place to ensure the ongoing success of the projects, and it was noted that a Tenancy Working Group had been set up to look at that and other related issues.

Cabinet agreed:

  (i)  Subject to (iii) below, the proposal to develop circa 24 one and two bedroom bungalows for elderly and disabled people at the Wood Lane Sports Centre site in the manner and with the funds referred to in the report, subject to the formal appropriation of the Wood Lane Sports Centre site from the General Fund to the HRA;

  (ii)  Subject to (iii) below, the proposal to develop circa16 one and two bedroom bungalows for elderly and disabled people at the former Lawns site in the manner and with the funds referred to in the report;

 (iii)  That an increased focus should be given to the development of two bedroom and family-sized bungalows at both schemes to reflect the needs of elderly couples and disabled people with families;

 (iv)  In principle,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17