Agenda item

[Report of the Assistant Director for Commercial and Operations. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.] 48 Falmer Road N15 is a terraced two bedroom house which has been empty for 4 years. The house is in very poor condition following water leaks and has also been squatted The report will seek permission to Compulsory Purchase a long term empty house at 48 Falmer Road, London N15.

The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report which sought approval to take forward a compulsory purchase order [CPO] of 48 Falmer Road N15, a house which had been empty for 4 years, was in a state of disrepair and had been squatted. All efforts to persuade the owner to bring the house back into use had failed.

Given the previous discussion on significant housing need in the borough ,it was important seek confirmation from the Secretary of State to complete the CPO and if given the Council would be allowed to sell the property and ensure that it was brought back into housing use.

RESOLVED

1.         To authorise the submission of 48 Falmer Road N15 to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for a confirmed Order, under Compulsory Purchase powers;

2.         To authorise the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance to:

Make and seal the Order for submission to the Secretary of State for consideration and approval (including the service of any requisition notices necessary to establish interests in the property) and to carry out the statutory notification required;

·                Confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order in the event of the Secretary of State returning the Order authorising the Council to do so;

·                Prepare for, and represent the Council at, any public inquiry held   following submission of the Order to the Secretary of State;

·                Upon confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order proceed with acquisition of the property;

·                In the event that any of the owner(s) undertakes in the form of a legally enforceable cross undertaking to bring the relevant property back into residential occupation and use within a reasonable timescale, to authorise the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer to enter in to and enforce such an undertaking instead of proceeding with the CPO for the property in question; and

·                Act in relation to any other procedural matters that may arise in the normal course of the CPO process.

3.         To approve (subject to the confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State) the disposal of the property to a Registered Provider where possible, or to an individual or private developer, with covenants to bring the property back into use as soon as practicable.

4.         To authorise the costs of the CPO to be met from the capital programme; and

5.         To approve the recycling of the receipt from the disposal back to the capital programme budget for the continued private sector housing CPO programme.

Reasons for decision

There is no alternative left but to CPO this property as all attempts to persuade the owner to bring the house back into use himself have failed.

Alternative options considered

The owner has been sent 5 letters in total including two letters offering help and advice on how to sell or renovate the house including the offer of a Council grant to help pay for renovations works, as well as an introduction to a company who could loan the owners their contribution towards the empty property grant. Three additional letters were also sent specifically mentioning the Councils powers to pursue a compulsory purchase order for this property due to the lack of engagement and failure by the owner, to undertake the necessary repairs to bring property back into use.

Proceeding with the CPO is the last resort as all efforts have failed and the owner has ceased his communication with the Council.