Issue - meetings

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the minutes from the recent meeting of the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee, held on 29 January 2018, and any recommendations therein.

New Development Sites

(1)        That authority be delegated to the Director of Communities to identify new Council Housebuilding development sites and to undertake feasibility studies and viability studies, in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, which would then be presented to the Cabinet Committee for consideration; and

(2)        That the terms of reference for the Cabinet Committee be amended to allow the Cabinet Committee to agree any new development sites that might be added to the Council Housebuilding programme.

In the absence of the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Leader of Council presented the minutes of the meeting from the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee, held on 29 January 2018.

The Cabinet Committee had made recommendations to the Cabinet concerning New Development Sites. Other issues considered by the Cabinet Committee included: Delivery of Future Phases of the Housebuilding Programme; Progress Report for Phases 1 – 6; Financial Position; Change of Name at Queens Road, North Weald Development; and Request to Purchase Potential Development Site at Whitehills Road, Loughton. The Acting Chief Executive added that East Thames had decided to focus on their core business activities, hence they had requested a termination of their contract to act as Development Agents on behalf of the Council.

Decision:

New Development Sites

(1)        That authority be delegated to the Director of Communities to identify new Council Housebuilding development sites and to undertake feasibility studies and viability studies, in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, which would then be presented to the Cabinet Committee for consideration; and

(2)        That the terms of reference for the Cabinet Committee be amended to allow the Cabinet Committee to agree any new development sites that might be added to the Council Housebuilding programme.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Cabinet Committee had fully addressed all of the relevant issues.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

The Cabinet was content that the Cabinet Committee had considered all of the relevant options and that there were no further options to consider.