Agenda item

To be proposed by Councillor Tinsley and seconded by Councillor Ball:

 

The Little London Estate was built to house munition workers during World War two for the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby. Two of the Streets were named after Parliamentary Ministers one being Churchill Avenue and the other Morrison Avenue. The Houses of a flat roof design was only designed to have a lifespan of around thirty years.  The estate is largely owned by two landlords with pockets of independent landlords. Work on the majority of the Rivergrove properties were carried out to bring them up to meet HHSRS Standards. Although the properties are known to suffer chronically from damp issues and leaky roofs.

Works to refurbish properties were undertaken back in 2016 leaving two blocks of houses unfinished and derelict. The houses have caused Anti-social behaviour and suffer from fly tipping along with rife with rodents.   The landlord has submitted a full application to demolish the properties and rebuild. Although there is little confidence from Residents that this will be conducted and could prolong the blight and issues in the area.

 

In the past the Council have tried to compulsory purchase the properties previously but failed in this process. We believe the council should reengage to try and purchase the properties and bring this before OSMB and the Full Council.

 

This Council notes:

1.    The Estate of little London has been blighted by derelict houses for at least the last 8 years.

2.    As of May 2021, the derelict properties were openly accessible to the public and were causing instances of ASB and fires. Both Ward Councillors Adam Tinsley and Lee Hunter have been proactive working with officers for action on the estate. Including pushing the need for the properties being secured back in 2021 and the surrounding area tidied up.

3.    Big Power for London Group have championed the need for improvements for improved housing conditions on the housing and around the surrounding estate.

4.    With occupied houses on the estate being “brought up to HHSRS Standards “the council and the landlord are operating under a special arrangement. Where the need for the area being put under selective licencing wasn’t necessitated.

5.    The landlord has recently made a full application to demolish and rebuild the properties.

 

This Council believes:

 

1.    That by the Council becoming a stakeholder in the estate it would create more Council housing locally, improve property standards, remove the derelict housing that has been a blight on the estate and would restore community pride in the area.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1.    The Council should open negotiations with the landlord to purchase the derelict properties with or without planning. Any proposal by the Council to purchase is to be reported back to OSMB and the full Council to scrutinise and vote on.

Moved by Councillor Tinsley and seconded by Councillor Ball

The Little London Estate was built to house munition workers during World War two for the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby. Two of the Streets were named after Parliamentary Ministers one being Churchill Avenue and the other Morrison Avenue. The houses of a flat roof design was only designed to have a lifespan of around thirty years.  The estate is largely owned by two landlords with pockets of independent landlords. Work on the majority of the Rivergrove properties were carried out to bring them up to meet HHSRS Standards. Although the properties are known to suffer chronically from damp issues and leaky roofs.

 

Works to refurbish properties were undertaken back in 2016 leaving two blocks of houses unfinished and derelict. The houses have caused anti-social behaviour and suffer from fly tipping along with rife with rodents.   The landlord has submitted a full application to demolish the properties and rebuild. Although there is little confidence from residents that this will be conducted and could prolong the blight and issues in the area.

 

In the past the Council has tried to compulsory purchase the properties previously but failed in this process. We believe the Council should re-engage to try and purchase the properties and bring this before OSMB and the Full Council.

 

This Council notes:-

 

1.           The Estate of Little London has been blighted by derelict houses for at least the last 8 years.

 

2.           As of May 2021, the derelict properties were openly accessible to the public and were causing instances of ASB and fires. Both Ward Councillors Adam Tinsley and Lee Hunter have been proactive working with officers for action on the estate. Including pushing the need for the properties being secured back in 2021 and the surrounding area tidied up.

 

3.           Big Power for London Group have championed the need for improvements for improved housing conditions on the housing and around the surrounding estate.

 

4.           With occupied houses on the estate being “brought up to HHSRS Standards“ the Council and the landlord are operating under a special arrangement. Where the need for the area being put under selective licencing wasn’t necessitated.

 

5.           The landlord has recently made a full application to demolish and rebuild the properties.

 

This Council believes:-

 

1.           That by the Council becoming a stakeholder in the estate it would create more Council housing locally, improve property standards, remove the derelict housing that has been a blight on the estate and would restore community pride in the area.

 

This Council resolves to:-

 

1.           The Council should open negotiations with the landlord to purchase the derelict properties with or without planning. Any proposal by the Council to purchase is to be reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and the full Council to scrutinise and vote on.

 

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Read and seconded by Councillor Andrews:-

 

“The Little London Estate was built to house munition workers during World War two for the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby. Two of the Streets were named after Parliamentary Ministers one being Churchill Avenue and the other Morrison Avenue. The Houses of a flat roof design was only designed to have a lifespan of around thirty years.  The estate is largely owned by two landlords with pockets of independent landlords. Work on the majority of the Rivergrove properties were carried out to bring them up to meet HHSRS Standards. Although the properties are known to suffer chronically from damp issues and leaky roofs.

 

Works to refurbish properties were undertaken back in 2016 leaving two blocks of houses unfinished and derelict. The houses have caused Anti-social behaviour and suffer from fly tipping along with rife with rodents.   The landlord has submitted a full application to demolish the properties and rebuild. Although there is little confidence from Residents that this will be conducted and could prolong the blight and issues in the area.

 

In the past the Council have tried to compulsory purchase the properties previously but failed in this process. We believe the council should reengage to try and purchase the properties and bring this before OSMB and the Full Council.

 

This Council notes:-

 

The Estate of little London has been blighted by derelict houses for at least the last 8 years.

 

As of May 2021, the derelict properties were openly accessible to the public and were causing instances of ASB and fires. Both Ward Councillors Adam Tinsley and Lee Hunter have been proactive working with officers for action on the estate. Including pushing the need for the properties being secured back in 2021 and the surrounding area tidied up.

 

Big Power for London Group have championed the need for improvements for improved housing conditions on the housing and around the surrounding estate.

 

With occupied houses on the estate being “brought up to HHSRS Standards “the council and the landlord are operating under a special arrangement. Where the need for the area being put under selective licencing wasn’t necessitated.

 

The landlord has recently made a full application to demolish and rebuild the properties.

 

[INSERT:]

In the last six months, the Council has begun to undertake a proactive programme of inspections of privately rented properties on the estate, surveying residents about the difficulties that they face, exterminating vermin, and meeting regularly with the Big Power group.

[END]

 

The Council believes:-

 

That by the Council becoming a stakeholder in the estate it would create more Council housing locally, improve property standards, remove the derelict housing that has been a blight on the estate and would restore community pride in the area.

 

The Council resolves to:-

 

[DELETE]

The Council should open negotiations with the landlord to purchase the derelict properties with or without planning. Any proposal by the Council to purchase is to be reported back to OSMB and the full Council to scrutinise and vote on.

[END]

 

[INSERT]

Honour the intention set out in the Cabinet report of July 2016 to purchase derelict properties on Churchill Avenue, subject to the necessary Legal and Procurement requirements, in such a way that meet the requirement to ensure Best Value for the taxpayer.

 

The decision making around this process will be subject to the Council’s formal Scrutiny processes in the usual way, and so can be considered based on the request of any individual Councillor.

[END]

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was approved and became the substantive motion which now read:-

 

 

The Little London Estate was built to house munition workers during World War two for the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby. Two of the Streets were named after Parliamentary Ministers one being Churchill Avenue and the other Morrison Avenue. The Houses of a flat roof design was only designed to have a lifespan of around thirty years.  The estate is largely owned by two landlords with pockets of independent landlords. Work on the majority of the Rivergrove properties were carried out to bring them up to meet HHSRS Standards. Although the properties are known to suffer chronically from damp issues and leaky roofs.

 

 Works to refurbish properties were undertaken back in 2016 leaving two blocks of houses unfinished and derelict. The houses have caused Anti-social behaviour and suffer from fly tipping along with rife with rodents.   The landlord has submitted a full application to demolish the properties and rebuild . Although there is little confidence from Residents that this will be conducted and could prolong the blight and issues in the area.

 

In the past the Council have tried to compulsory purchase the properties previously but failed in this process. We believe the council should reengage to try and purchase the properties and bring this before OSMB and the Full Council.

 

This Council notes:-

 

The Estate of little London has been blighted by derelict houses for at least the last 8 years.

 

As of May 2021, the derelict properties were openly accessible to the public and were causing instances of ASB and fires. Both Ward Councillors Adam Tinsley and Lee Hunter have been proactive working with officers for action on the estate. Including pushing the need for the properties being secured back in 2021 and the surrounding area tidied up.

 

Big Power for London Group have championed the need for improvements for improved housing conditions on the housing and around the surrounding estate.

 

With occupied houses on the estate being “brought up to HHSRS Standards “the council and the landlord are operating under a special arrangement. Where the need for the area being put under selective licencing wasn’t necessitated.

 

The landlord has recently made a full application to demolish and rebuild the properties.

 

In the last six months, the Council has begun to undertake a proactive programme of inspections of privately rented properties on the estate, surveying residents about the difficulties that they face, exterminating vermin, and meeting regularly with the Big Power group.

 

The Council believes:-

 

That by the Council becoming a stakeholder in the estate it would create more Council housing locally, improve property standards, remove the derelict housing that has been a blight on the estate and would restore community pride in the area.

 

The Council resolves to:-

 

Honour the intention set out in the Cabinet report of July 2016 to purchase derelict properties on Churchill Avenue, subject to the necessary Legal and Procurement requirements, in such a way that meet the requirement to ensure Best Value for the taxpayer.

 

The decision making around this process will be subject to the Council’s formal Scrutiny processes in the usual way, and so can be considered based on the request of any individual councillor.

 

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was carried.