Agenda item

To consider additional information prepared in relation to the motion put forward by Councillor Placey to Council on 24 November 2020 and to make a recommendation to the Council meeting on 16 March 2021.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    again thanks Councillor Placey for her motion and, whilst welcoming its spirit proposes an amended motion to better achieve the desired outcomes;

(b)    notes and supports the ongoing work by Officers in relation to identifying potential sites for development or disposal; identifying potential purchases of dwellings on the market; and establishing processes and resources for the construction of new Council Housing;

(c)    instruct Officers to continue to investigate potential sites and acquisitions, wherever they may be located within the District, reporting to the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders in their exercise of executive functions and Scheme of Delegation;

(d)    determines that each report and decision should have regard to the adopted Housing Strategy and:

a.      addressing housing need in the District and area concerned;

b.      potential receipts to fund housing construction, acquisition or other Council priorities; and

c.      the specific characteristics of the site and area under consideration including (but not limited to) the current use and contribution to Council Priorities, costs of operation, the proximity of other services and uses, the economic viability of development, and whether a transfer to another organisation in current form would better promote the Council’s priorities.

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL that the following amended motion be adopted by Full Council, in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12.5:-

“That the Council:

i)       notes and supports the ongoing work by Officers in relation to identification of potential sites for development or disposal, identifying potential purchases of dwellings on the market and establishing processes and resources for the construction of new Council Housing; and

ii)    notes the instruction from Cabinet to Officers to continue to investigate all potential sites and acquisitions, wherever they may be located within the District, reporting to the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders in accordance with their Executive functions and Scheme of Delegation including the various criteria outlined in the Cabinet’s decision taken on 19 February 2021 including reference to housing, financial and other priorities and the specific characteristics of the sites and area under consideration and the identified needs of those areas.”

The Cabinet gave consideration to a joint report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder and the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.7) which provided it with additional information prepared in relation to the motion put forward by Councillor Placey to Full Council on 24 November 2020 and to enable it to make a recommendation to the Full Council meeting on 16 March 2021.

Cabinet recalled that, at its meeting held on 18 December 2020 (Minute 97 referred), it had considered the motion put forward by Councillor Placey to the meeting of the Full Council held on 24 November 2020 and which had then been referred to the Cabinet for its consideration. Council Placey’s motion had stated that three potential sites for disposal (complete with planning permission) namely those at Crome Road, Clacton-on-Sea; Dover Road, Brightlingsea; and at Hilton Close Manningtree should be considered suitable for Council housing development in line with the Council’s adopted Housing Strategy.

At that meeting Cabinet had resolved to thank Councillor Placey for her input; had noted a number of factors around disposals of pieces of land; and had requested a further report to this meeting with a view to presenting the outcome of Cabinet’s deliberations on this matter to the meeting of the Full Council on 16 March 2021.

Having duly considered the further information and advice contained in the Portfolio Holders’ joint report:-

It was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor P B Honeywood and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    again thanks Councillor Placey for her motion and, whilst welcoming its spirit proposes an amended motion to better achieve the desired outcomes;

(b)    notes and supports the ongoing work by Officers in relation to identifying potential sites for development or disposal; identifying potential purchases of dwellings on the market; and establishing processes and resources for the construction of new Council Housing;

(c)    instruct Officers to continue to investigate potential sites and acquisitions, wherever they may be located within the District, reporting to the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders in their exercise of executive functions and Scheme of Delegation;

(d)    determines that each report and decision should have regard to the adopted Housing Strategy and:

a.      addressing housing need in the District and area concerned;

b.      potential receipts to fund housing construction, acquisition or other Council priorities; and

c.      the specific characteristics of the site and area under consideration including (but not limited to) the current use and contribution to Council Priorities, costs of operation, the proximity of other services and uses, the economic viability of development, and whether a transfer to another organisation in current form would better promote the Council’s priorities.

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL that the following amended motion be adopted by Full Council, in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12.5:-

“That the Council:

i)       notes and supports the ongoing work by Officers in relation to identification of potential sites for development or disposal, identifying potential purchases of dwellings on the market and establishing processes and resources for the construction of new Council Housing; and

ii)    notes the instruction from Cabinet to Officers to continue to investigate all potential sites and acquisitions, wherever they may be located within the District, reporting to the Cabinet and Portfolio Holders in accordance with their Executive functions and Scheme of Delegation including the various criteria outlined in the Cabinet’s decision taken on 19 February 2021 including reference to housing, financial and other priorities and the specific characteristics of the sites and area under consideration and the identified needs of those areas.”