Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

RESOLVED THAT

1. the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (‘the Order’) under section 226 (1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to acquire 8 Golden Miller Road, Cheltenham, as shown edged red on the attached plan (Appendix 2) (the Order Land) be authorised.

2. the Enforcement Manager be authorised to make any necessary minor or technical amendments to the boundaries of the Order Land.

3. the Borough Solicitor be authorised to seal the Order and to take all necessary steps, including the publication of all statutory notices and defend the Council at Public Inquiry if necessary, to secure confirmation of the Order and the vesting of the Order land in the Council.

4. the Enforcement Manager be authorised to continue to negotiate with the owners of interests in the Order Land to secure a purchase of the Order Land prior to confirmation of the Order

5. In the event that the Secretary of State notifies the Council that it has been given power to confirm the Order, authorise the Borough Solicitor to confirm the Order.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the report and explained that since 8 Golden Miller Road,a privately owned property, had become vacant in 2003 the property had deteriorated and complaints had been received by the council. All negotiations to improve the property and bring it back into residential use had failed and negotiations to purchase the property had also failed. Whilst compulsory purchase was seen as a last resort it must now be considered as a means to bring the property back into residential use and allow renovation to improve its appearance and prevent further loss of amenity to the area.

Members agreed that compulsory purchase was an important signal that the council would not tolerate properties which were in a state of disrepair and that due to the chronic shortage of housing in the town the council would not accept long term empty properties.

RESOLVED THAT:

1. the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (‘the Order’) under section 226 (1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to acquire 8 Golden Miller Road, Cheltenham, as shown edged red on the attached plan (Appendix 2) (the Order Land) be authorised.

2. the Enforcement Manager be authorised to make any necessary minor or technical amendments to the boundaries of the OrderLand.

3. the Borough Solicitor be authorised to seal the Order and to take all necessary steps, including the publication of all statutory notices and defend the Council at Public Inquiry if necessary, to secure confirmation of the Order and the vesting of the Order land in the Council.

4. the Enforcement Manager be authorised to continue to negotiate with the owners of interests in the OrderLand to secure a purchase of the OrderLand prior to confirmation of the Order

5. In the event that the Secretary of State notifies the Council that it has been given power to confirm the Order, authorise the Borough Solicitor to confirm the Order.