Issue - meetings

To seek approval, in principle, from Cabinet for the freehold sale of a five bedroom residential property in Harwich requiring substantial maintenance work.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    authorises, in principle, the freehold sale of the property; and

(b)    subject to its decision on terms to be taken later on in the meeting following the exclusion of the press and public, authorises the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) to enter into a contract and transfer deed to complete the sale of the property. However, should this sale fall through, the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) may continue to accept offers £10,000 above or below the sale price or to go to auction via the recommended reserve price.

Cabinet had before it a detailed joint report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder and the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.8) which sought its approval, in principle, for the freehold sale of a five bedroom residential property in Harwich requiring substantial maintenance work.

It was reported that the property in question was a ‘non-traditional’ Council house in need of substantial maintenance work and had been identified as surplus to requirements. In November 2021 authority had been obtained to commence the Property Dealing Procedure and list the property for open market sale.

Members were informed that the property had been on the market with a local Estate Agent for a number of weeks and an offer had been received. This offer had been provisionally accepted subject to the decisions of the Cabinet.

Cabinet was advised that the offer accepted was equal to the market value of the property, as determined by the valuations obtained and as such the disposal would be in accordance with the General Consents Order. 

Having considered the information and advice contained in the Portfolio Holders’ joint report and to enable this matter to continue to progress to a satisfactory conclusion:-

It was moved by Councillor Neil Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor Paul Honeywood and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    authorises, in principle, the freehold sale of the property; and

(b)     subject to its decision on terms to be taken later on in the meeting following the exclusion of the press and public, authorises the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) to enter into a contract and transfer deed to complete the sale of the property. However, should this sale fall through, the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) may continue to accept offers £10,000 above or below the sale price or to go to auction via the recommended reserve price.