Agenda item

(Report of the Chief Operating Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration)The report sets out proposals to make Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to nine vacant properties within Haringey.

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration which set out the proposals to make Compulsory Purchase orders in relation to 7 vacant properties in the borough. The report described the condition of the properties and actions previously taken by the council to bring the properties back into use.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration emphasised the undeniable need for housing in the borough and the need to take action to ensure empty properties were put back into use. In relation to the attached 7 properties, the council would have corresponded with the owners consistently and offered advice on grant aid application to bring the houses back into use. The use of CPO powers would help induce the home owners to come forward to make decisions about the use of their property.

Cllr McNamara welcomed the policy coming forward.

In response to Cllr Bull’s question, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration would notify the relevant ward councillors of the proposed CPO actions.

RESOLVED

i. That the compulsory acquisition of and the submission of the 7 properties listed in Paragraph 5.5to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for a confirmed Order, under Compulsory Purchase powers be authorised; 

ii.                  That  the Assistant Director Corporate Governances be authorised to:

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

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

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

(d)          Upon confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order proceed with acquisition of each of the properties;

(e)          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 Head of Legal Services in consultation with the Interim Chief Operating Officer to enter in to and enforce such an undertaking instead of proceeding with the CPO for the property in question; and

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

iii.                That (subject to the confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State) the disposal of each of the property to a Registered Provider where possible, or to an individual or private developer, with covenants to bring the relevant property back into use as soon as practicable be approved.

iv.                 That the costs of the CPO to be met from the capital programme; and the recycling of the receipt from the disposal back to the capital programme budget for the continued private sector housing CPO programme be approved.

Alternative options considered

All options have been tried and exhausted. Letters have been sent to the owners of the empty properties offering advice and grant aid.

Some of these properties have a debt outstanding to the Council which is being pursued under the Enforced Sale process. If the owner fails to pay, an Enforced Sale will be pursued and the property sold at auction. If they do pay but do not renovate the home and bring it back into use, the Council will proceed with CPO.

Reasons for decision

Every effort has been made to persuade the owners of the 7 properties in question to bring their properties back into use themselves including offering financial assistance in the form of a grant. CPO is very much a last resort and only used where the Council believe that there is no other way to ensure these properties are renovated and come back into use