Issue - meetings

Crystal Palace and Chislehurst wards

Report DRR19/025

Members considered recommendations for the approval of a Capital Scheme for the design and construction of up to 60 temporary homes across two sites known as, Banbury House, Bushell Way and Anerley Town Hall overflow car park.  In order to achieve this, approval was sought for a further £8.4m to be added to the Capital Programme.

The report also sought approval to proceed to procurement for the provision of a design and build contract for the two sites and that the land at both sites be appropriated for housing purposes.

The Leader thanked the Chairman of the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee for his helpful suggestion that were a Special Executive meeting to be held the Members of the PDS Committee be invited to the Executive meeting to fulfil the scrutiny role.

The Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing reported that lessons had been learnt from previous procurement and were reflected in the report before Members.  The Council would receive a net yield of approximately 5.5% for every flat.  In addition to this the Council would own an asset and make further savings in respect of the costs of nightly paid accommodation.  There was also the possibility of the Council receiving a grant from the GLA.

The Leader noted that there was potential for the unit costs to be reduced and requested that this be further reviewed.

Members of the Executive requested that if a special meeting of the Executive was required the date should be tentatively confirmed as soon as possible.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee at its meeting on 7th May 2019, and the Committee supported the recommendations on condition that Members of the PDS Committee be invited to the meeting or may write to the Chairman with their views. 

RESOLVED that

(a)Council be recommended to approve the addition of £8.4m to the Capital Programme for the provision of up to 60 residential units for the provision of housing for the purposes of temporary accommodation on sites known a Bushell Way and Anerley Town Hall Overflow Car Park; with £7.5m funded from the Housing Investment Fund earmarked reserve, and £0.9m identified in the 2018/19 Provisional Final Outturn report being submitted to the Executive on 21^st may 2019;

2  A mini competition tender using the LHC, NH1 Framework be agreed for a design and build of housing at the identified sites, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report and the approval process for contract award as set out in paragraph 4.9.3; and

3  The appropriation of land at sites known as Bushell Way and Anerley Town Hall overflow carpark from their current purpose to the purpose of housing land held under the general fund in accordance with section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved.