Issue - decisions

Date of Decision:

1 March 2024

Title:

Strategic acquisition of 18 new homes from the Brecks Lane development in Brecks

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Enaction of recommendation 2 from the Annual Housing Development Report – 2022/23, approved by Cabinet 11 July 2022:

“2. That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from any of the schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 3”.

Reaffirmed in recommendation 3 of the subsequent Housing Development Programme Report – 2023/24, approved by Cabinet 23 January 2023:

“3. That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from any of the schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 5”.

Decision:

Approval to enter into contract with Avant Homes to purchase 18 new homes from the Brecks Lane development in Brecks – identified in both Appendix 3 to the July 2022 Cabinet report and Appendix 5 to the January 2023 report.

The Council will purchase:

·       Nine, two-bedroom houses

·       One, two bedroom bungalow

·       Seven, three-bedroom houses

·       One, four-bedroom house

The homes will be brought into the Council’s existing housing stock and made available to applicants from the Housing Register.

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision has been taken in-line with the Cabinet approval, to ensure that the Council can continue to deliver new council homes to meet residents’ needs.

The financial detail of the acquisitions is set out within the capital business case. It is not included within the decision record on the basis that it is commercially sensitive. This is in-line with the over-arching Cabinet report exemption.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The July 2022 Cabinet report considered the alternative option not to pursue new acquisition opportunities and this was not recommended because: “the Council needs to ensure a continuous pipeline to deliver the council homes needed”.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Annual Housing Development Report – 2022/23.

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Housing Development Programme Report – 2023/24.

Full Business Case (FBC) – Brecks Lane Strategic Acquisitions