Issue - meetings

That:

1)         the considerable progress already underway to support the rehousing of tenants and homeowners on the Gorse Ride estate be noted;

2)         the in principle use of a CPO to acquire all property interests (the extent of which is shown indicatively edged red on the plan in Appendix 1) required to deliver the Gorse Ride Regeneration Project be authorised;

3)        Council Officers continue to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of all third party interests in the land in advance of confirmation of a CPO;

4)         the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Members with responsibility for Housing and Finance, be authorised to take all necessary steps required for the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including securing the appointment of an external specialist CPO adviser to prepare all necessary documents required to support this process, including statements of reasons and requisite statutory notices;

5)        the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Members with responsibility for Housing and Finance, be authorised to make General Vesting Declarations (GVDs) under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and  / or serve notice to treat and notices of entry (if required) following confirmation of the CPO.

The Executive considered a report seeking approval to proceed with the making of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to achieve the comprehensive regeneration of the Gorse Ride estate.

The Executive Member with responsibility for Housing went through the report and advised that the intention was to establish a compulsory purchase order which would enable the voluntary or compulsory acquisition of all the necessary third party land interests to bring forward comprehensive regeneration of the Gorse Ride estate.  The compulsory purchase order would provide certainty with regard to the site assembly and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to rejuvenating the area.

Councillor Weeks stated that he was very pleased that the redevelopment of the area was being taken forward and hoped that the existence of a CPO would ensure that most acquisitions could be achieved voluntarily.  He was also pleased to note that the redevelopment was supported by the majority of residents and had the support of the Tenant and Landlord Improvement Panel.  Councillor Weeks highlighted the community spirit that existed in the area and advised that the Council was doing its utmost to ensure this was maintained as the new development progressed.

RESOLVED that:

1)         the considerable progress already underway to support the rehousing of tenants and homeowners on the Gorse Ride estate be noted;

2)         the in principle use of a CPO to acquire all property interests (the extent of which is shown indicatively edged red on the plan in Appendix 1) required to deliver the Gorse Ride Regeneration Project be authorised;

3)        Council Officers continue to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of all third party interests in the land in advance of confirmation of a CPO;

4)         the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Members with responsibility for Housing and Finance, be authorised to take all necessary steps required for the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including securing the appointment of an external specialist CPO adviser to prepare all necessary documents required to support this process, including statements of reasons and requisite statutory notices;

5)        the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Members with responsibility for Housing and Finance, be authorised to make General Vesting Declarations (GVDs) under the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and  / or serve notice to treat and notices of entry (if required) following confirmation of the CPO.