On 21
July 2020, Cabinet:-
(i) Approved the criteria for
supporting the Voluntary Right to Buy Programme for affordable housing outlined
within paragraph 3.4 of the report;
(ii) Approved the acquisition of
housing accommodation sold by the Council to its former tenants under the
statutory Right to Buy and other properties that the Council requires for the
purposes set out in 3.8 of this report from time to time using Right to Buy
receipts, subject to approval of funds in the HRA Business Plan 2020+ by
Cabinet in February 2020. These acquisitions will be supported by appropriate
valuation advice to ensure value for money and approval for the acquisition of
such properties will be delegated to the Acting Director Inclusive Growth, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods (See Appendix
1, Acquisition Criteria of the report);
(iii) Approved the acquisition of
Empty Homes acquired through Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) by the Empty Homes
Teams dependent upon the location, type and availability of Right to Buy
receipts and other financial resources. These acquisitions will be subject to
criteria and delegations outlined in (ii) above;
(iv) Approved the establishment
of a recycled capital grant fund to allow the Council to recycle any grant
funding that may become repayable as set out in 3.9 of the report;
(v) Authorised the Acting
Director, Inclusive Growth to seek consent from the Secretary of State under
Section 174 of the Localism Act 2011 to exclude the acquired properties from
Right to Buy Pooling requirements, to ensure that any capital receipts
generated from any future sale of homes acquired under these proposals under
the Right to Buy are retained by the Council for reinvestment in future housing
delivery;
(vi) Authorised the Interim City Solicitor (or
their delegate) to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary documentation
to give effect to the above recommendations.
THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS 1600 HOURS ON MONDAY
27 JULY 2020.