Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Cabinet Member referred those present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting and asked that those present reviewed and noted the information contained therein

None.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Cabinet Member noted the report, which sought approval to vary the Heads of Terms agreed previously around the disposal of infill sites for development to Sanctuary Housing Association. The report also sought approval to use £2.1m of Right to Buy Receipts to fund Social Housing and improve the viability and deliverability of the scheme. 

RESOLVED

1. That the Cabinet Member agrees to the variation to the Heads of Terms (attached in the exempt part of the report) and as set out this report.

2. That the Cabinet Member agrees to invest £2.1m of retained Right to Buy Receipts to help fund Social Housing and improve the viability and deliverability of the scheme subject to Sanctuary Housing Association entering into a funding agreement.

Reasons for decision

There is an acute shortage of housing supply, particularly of affordable housing, in Haringey and the borough has identified a portfolio of 20 potential development sites within its ownership to help address this shortage

The Housing Revenue Account budget is under pressure due to the 2016-20 rent reduction of 1% per year and the proposed High-Value Voids Levy to fund the Right to Buy extension for housing associations

Haringey operates a Preferred Partner List of Registered Providers (a small number chosen for their strategic fit with the Council and their development capacity) to work in partnership with the borough to ensure the quality of new developments and day to day management are delivered to the highest standards

Registered Providers have the development capacity and expertise to efficiently deliver housing on these sites and disposal to a Preferred Partner would transfer any funding requirement (other than potentially some borough Right to Buy Grant for affordable rented accommodation if applicable) and development risk away from the Council whilst maintaining 100% Council nomination rights for the affordable housing delivered. Registered Providers (RPs) are development- focused and resourced to speedily obtain planning consent and commence delivery of the homes

In order to enable site due diligence and design work to commence quickly, it is proposed to exchange contracts on all sites within this portfolio as quickly as possible. The contract will be subject to obtaining planning consent for a viable and deliverable scheme; complying with any requirement for Secretary of State Consent to the disposal and the Council being satisfied that it has received market value for the land value taking into consideration the unit and tenure mix

Planning consent is required prior to disposal to protect the borough’s position in obtaining market value for the land value, given that it is the planning consent that will create this value

The Council expects the dwellings on these sites to be delivered within a reasonable timescale and the Council will have a legal Option to re-purchase the site should there be unreasonable delay due to Sanctuary Housing not progressing development proposals in a timely manner

The valuation of the land will be based upon the tenure and unit mix achieved at planning consent. Sanctuary Housing has committed to a minimum of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135.

To consider any new items admitted at item 2 above.

None

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of Items 7 and 8 as they contain exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); Paragraph 3; Information relating to financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the reminder of the meeting as the items contained exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

As per item 4.

The Cabinet Member noted the exempt section of the report.