Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 to the report is in the private section of the agenda at Item 16.

Further to Minute 102 (13 February 2017), the Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment presented a report on revised development proposals in respect of the former Sacred Heart Convent site and the inclusion of the former DVLA Weighbridge site in Cook Road into the redevelopment plans for the area.

The project approved in February 2017 related to a conversion and new build scheme at the Sacred Heart site to provide approximately 60 temporary accommodation units.  The Cabinet Member explained that due to the time that had elapsed and subsequent changes to Local Housing Allowance rates, Be First had been asked to undertake a review of the capacity at the site and the marginal financial benefits associated with the original project.  As a result of that review, an alternative proposal had been put forward that would deliver 96 temporary accommodation units at the nearby former Weighbridge site while the locally listed Sacred Heart Convent site would be refurbished to provide 9 affordable-rent apartments and a further 17 affordable-rent houses in the surrounding grounds. 

The Cabinet Member commented that the modular design of the temporary accommodation units would significantly reduce construction time, enabling those who had fallen on hard times to be housed quicker and, more importantly, for them to stay within Barking and Dagenham.  The financial modelling assessment and options appraisal for the new project also reflected the benefits of the new scheme over the original proposal.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the conversion of the former Sacred Heart Convent site to provide circa 9 apartments and the construction of circa 17 new build houses in the surrounding grounds with associated car parking and amenity areas;

(ii)  Agree to use an existing entity within the Barking and Dagenham Reside structure (or the establishment, if required, of a new Special Purpose Vehicle within that structure) to hold the properties at the former Sacred Heart site;

(iii)  Approve borrowing of up to £6.1m within the General Fund to fund the refurbishment and construction costs of the affordable housing project;

(iv)  Agree to allocate £2m restricted Right to Buy receipts, if required, to fund the construction and professional fees to support the financial viability of the affordable housing project;

(v)  Approve the development of the former DVLA Weighbridge site to provide circa 96 homes for use by the Council’s Temporary Accommodation service as licenced accommodation, to be held in the General Fund;

(vi)  Approve borrowing of up to £7.714m within the General Fund to fund the development costs for the temporary accommodation project;

(vii)  Delegate authority to Chief Operating Officer, following endorsement by the Procurement Board, to approve the final procurement strategy for the project works;

(viii)  Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Members for Finance, Growth and Investment and Economic and Social Development, to negotiate terms and agree the contract documents to fully implement and effect the proposals set out in the report; and

(ix)  Authorise the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112