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Decision details
Empty Homes Compulsory Purchase Programme
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To recommend that the Council commences a further programme of compulsory purchase in respect of long term empty properties where owners have failed to bring them back into residential use within a reasonable timescale.
Decisions:
The Head of Housing and Planning Services presented a report to seek Cabinet approval for compulsory purchase action on twenty seven privately owned empty properties, as part of the empty homes strategy enforcement programme.
The compulsory purchase order (CPO) programme was a significant tool in achieving the aims and objectives set out in the empty homes strategy, however, the council only used its CPO powers when all other options to bring the properties back into use had been fully explored.
Cabinet was advised of the financial and legal implications of using the CPO process, and options to mitigate the risk to the council. The CPO process may take between three and fifteen months to complete, depending on whether a public enquiry is called. Once the council has taken possession of the properties, it is intended that they will be disposed of on the open market, with covenants ensuring the purchaser brings the property back into use within a reasonable timescale.
The report also gave an update on the successful progress on the existing forty two empty homes previously considered for compulsory purchase.
Members noted a part 2 report, which gave detailed reasons for resolving to use compulsory purchase powers for each of the proposed twenty seven homes.
Councillor Forward moved approval of the recommendations to the report, as set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Chowney.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that – Cabinet approves the detailed recommendations set out in the report included in Part 2 of the agenda and approves the making of compulsory purchase orders in respect of the twenty seven long term empty properties.
The reason for this decision was:
The council’s empty homes strategy sets out a number of enforcement powers available to the council, including the compulsory purchase of suitable properties.
In addition to taking action to bring individual empty properties back into use, it is hoped that taking this action will demonstrate to the owners of empty homes that it is unacceptable to leave property empty for an unreasonable time. This action will demonstrate to owners of these empty homes that the council will take the necessary action to bring these back into use again for the benefit of the community.
Report author: Andrew Palmer
Publication date: 09/07/2014
Date of decision: 07/07/2014
Decided at meeting: 07/07/2014 - Cabinet
Accompanying Documents:
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