Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 65 - 96) as delivered and summarised by the Director of Services / Monitoring Officer which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Director of Services / Monitoring Officer added that, subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) being made, the options available included, but was not limited to, incorporation of the property in question into the Council’s housing stock or for the property to accommodate a homelessness provision.

The Vice-Chair moved the recommendations en bloc as set out at paragraphs 2.(i) to 2.(ii) of the report (at page 65).

Councillor J Kaufman seconded the recommendations.

Councillor J Kaufmann asked whether a record of similar void properties was being kept so that other CPO’s could be pursued in the future.

The Director of Services / Monitoring Officer advised that a record was being kept and was last reported to the meeting of the Service Delivery Committee on 17 January 2017. It was said that additional CPO’s would be sought in the future.

Councillor E R Barr enquired as to: the nature and extent of communications with the owner of the property before June 2011; and the last (successful) response received back from the owner.

The Vice-Chair advised that before June 2011 Ward Councillors, in conjunction with Officers, were in regular contact with the owner regarding the property’s poor state of repair and maintenance. It was reported that the garden(s) did undergo maintenance works on one occasion prior to June 2011 as a result of negotiations with the owner.

The Director of Services / Monitoring Officer advised that: no response had been received back from the owner since June 2011 and; the latest (unresponded) correspondence sent to the owner was produced at appendix 2 (at pages 76 – 79).

The Chair requested that information regarding the nature and extent of communications with the owner of prior June 2011 be provided to Members outside the meeting in due course.

Councillor J W Boyce noted the irrelevance of the requested information to the material consideration before the Committee.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)        A Compulsory Purchase Order under section 17 and Part XVII of the Housing Act 1985, and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, for the acquisition of 114 Uplands Road, Oadby be made;

(ii)       That the Director of Services, in conjunction with the Chair of Policy, Finance and Development Committee and the Chief Financial Officer be granted delegated authority do anything necessary to give effect to the above at (i) including, but not limited to, undertaking all procedural steps required to:

(a)    make advertise and secure confirmation and implementation of the Compulsory Purchase Order;

(b)    acquire the legal interest in the property the subject of the proposed Compulsory Purchase Order, whether by voluntary agreement or compulsorily using statutory powers set out in the preceding paragraph;

(c)    take all necessary action to deal with all matters relating to the payment of compensation and statutory interest including approval of agreement with land owners (if they come forward) setting out the terms for withdrawal of objections to the Order and where necessary and/or appropriate the instituting or defending of related proceedings; and

(d)    dispose of the property in accordance with the proposals set out in this report.

Votes For                   11

Votes Against            0

Abstentions               1