Issue - meetings

To seek agreement from Cabinet to demolish the main scheme building at Honeycroft.

That –

a)     the Corporate Director (Operational Services) be authorised to make arrangements for the demolition of the main scheme building at Honeycroft, Lawford; and

b)     further work be continued by Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to explore the future use of the site after detailed financial modelling within the HRA and subject to the emerging Housing Strategy. Any consultation on the proposed future options for the Honeycroft site will include Lawford Parish Council.

The Finance and Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder had earlier declared an interest in relation to this item insofar as though he was no longer in control of the Post Office adjacent to the Honeycroft site he was running it on a caretaker basis until August 2018.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.3) which sought its agreement to demolish the main scheme building at Honeycroft, Lawford.

Cabinet was aware that following its decision made on 23 March 2018 the main scheme building at Honeycroft had remained closed.

It was reported that, although vacant, the property still incurred costs to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

It was now felt that the condition of the building was such that demolition was the only viable course of action whilst a decision was taken on the future of the site as a whole. Therefore, it was proposed in the Portfolio Holder’s report that the building be demolished which would provide estimated annual savings to the HRA of £37,000.  Options in respect of the future for the site would be submitted to Cabinet once they had been fully evaluated.

Having considered the information provided in the Portfolio Holder’s report:-

It was moved by Councillor P B Honeywood, seconded by Councillor Stock OBE and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)     the Corporate Director (Operational Services) be authorised to make arrangements for the demolition of the main scheme building at Honeycroft, Lawford; and

b)     further work be continued by Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to explore the future use of the site after detailed financial modelling within the HRA and subject to the emerging Housing Strategy. Any consultation on the proposed future options for the Honeycroft site will include Lawford Parish Council.