Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

The Cabinet Member Housing introduced the report and explained that the council now owned all 12 properties on the site of Cakebridge Place which were all beyond economic refurbishment. He also reported that initial flooding concerns led to an approach to the football club regarding a land swap to allow residential development off Whaddon Road.  The Cabinet Member said that the two options available to the council had been examined by the Asset Management Working Group the previous week which supported the Whaddon Road development option.

The Head of Property and Asset Management was then invited to address Cabinet. He explained that the land swap with the football club would provide the football club with improved commercial opportunities. He also said that this opportunity for offsite provision also supported a more holistic view of the Council’s property assets in the immediate locality and would potentially enhance CBC’s longer term value of the football club site.

The Cabinet Member Housing said the council was in an enviable position by seeking additional much needed affordable housing on HRA land and at the same time enhancing the value of the site.

The Cabinet Member Finance referred to the detailed discussion held by members of the Asset Management Working Group which supported unanimously the sound advice for the long term to maximise the value of the asset by progressing with the Whaddon Road option. The group also recognised the more immediate benefits of providing modern new homes and alleviating football match traffic for local residents.

Members of Cabinet welcomed the prospect of high quality new affordable home for local benefit and the protection of an important asset as well as improving facilities and enhancing commercial opportunities for the football club. It provided an important message that the council was committed to developing housing for rent and social purposes which was a key part of the council’s function.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the “Whaddon Road ” option set out in paragraph 1.7.2 of the report be adopted and that appropriate steps be taken to clear and redevelop both the Cakebridge Place and the Whaddon Road sites to reflect the proposed development, and making an application to the appropriate authority to stop up Cakebridge Place in whole or part

2.    the Head of Property and Asset Management (in consultation with the section 151 Officer and the Borough Solicitor) be authorised to proceed with negotiations with Cheltenham Town Football Club to enable the land shown in Plan B to return to the Council’s possession and for the land shown in Plan A to be included within the area leased to the Club  substantially  upon the terms (including expiry) of the existing lease and such other terms as the Head of Property and Asset Management deems necessary or advisable to protect the Council’s interests

3.    the Borough Solicitor be authorised to conclude such documents as she deems appropriate to reflect the terms negotiated under paragraph 2 of this Resolution, whether by surrender of part and lease of substitute land, or surrender of the whole and grant of a new lease of the varied area

4.    at the relevant time, the land returned to the Council’s possession under resolution 2 above be appropriated to Housing (HRA) land

5.    that the Right to Buy receipts be used as far as possible to fund the project