Issue - meetings

Mr Jacob Secker, Secretary of the Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association, and Mr Chris Hutton, Chair of the Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association, addressed the Committee in relation to item 13 – Tangmere and Northolt Compulsory Purchase Order.

Mr Jacob Secker strongly objected to the proposal to use a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) against the remaining leaseholders. He felt that, instead, the Council should make a fair offer, not involving eviction, which covered the cost of a comparable property in Tottenham because the prices were artificially depressed. Therefore, when considering the shared equity this was not enough and the leaseholder would lose their home loss payment as  this was added to the  financial pot to enable purchase of a property. He stated that it was unacceptable to use CPOs when such low offers had been made, explaining that £160,000 was offered for a 1-bed unit in Northolt and this would force people out of the area which was unacceptable. Mr Secker felt that this was similar to the issue on the Aylesbury estate, and the same situation should not be faced on Broadwater Farm

Although offers were made in July, these were not consulted upon.  These offers met some people’s needs but the deputation contended that not all the leaseholders needs were met and time had not been taken to complete a proper consultation on this situation to avoid the CPO process.

Mr Jacob Secker wanted the Council to offer leaseholders an amount comparable to other values in Tottenham rather than the depressed values in Broadwater Farm.

Mr Chris Hutton reiterated that Broadwater Farm had depressed values and that not enough consideration had been given to the fact that these leaseholders were not willing sellers. He stated that the basis of evaluation for leaseholders to receive a fair offer should be an offer comparable to the cost of replacing their home in the local area, assuming that there was a willing seller and buyer.

The Leader responded that the Council’s offer was very different from the offer on the Aylesbury Estate in Southwark. The Leader advised that the Council were offering the opportunity for residents to purchase a property and for the Council to take an equity stake in that. The Leader challenged the view that the Council were forcing people out and making people homeless as this was not sustained or justified by the proposal that the Council was actually putting forward. He added that it was unfortunate that property prices were depressed in the area but that this would have also been the case when properties were purchased. It was highlighted that leaseholders had the opportunity to move in Tottenham and were not being restricted. Mr Jacob Secker contended that shared equity could be used to move elsewhere in Tottenham but this was too low and that leaseholders would end up having a limited choice and would lose their home loss payment. He felt that leaseholders were getting the lowest possible offer in the circumstances which was why people were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 316