Issue - meetings

[To approve the acquisition of privately owned empty property by agreement or compulsory purchase]

1.   That the Director of City Housing and Environment be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property Sunnyside, Inkerman Grove, Wolverhampton, WV10 0EU and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.   That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme be approved.

3.   That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Director of City Housing and Environment, the withdrawal of the property from the CPO be authorised.

4.   That following any acquisition, the Director of City Housing and Environment be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied within six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.   That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.      Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.      Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.      Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty. 

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal presented the report on a proposal for the Council to acquire through negotiation or compulsory purchase, Sunnyside, Inkerman Grove, Wolverhampton. The end terrace property was reported as empty in August 2016. It was in a diminished and dilapidated condition.  A Notice requiring the owners to remedy the detrimental effect of the property was served.  No appeal against the notice was made and the notice had not been fully complied with.  The proposal to bring a long term empty property back into residential use was in support of the Council’s Empty Property Strategy.

Resolved: 

1.   That the Director of City Housing and Environment be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the property Sunnyside, Inkerman Grove, Wolverhampton, WV10 0EU and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Part II Section 17 Housing Act 1985 in respect of the property.

2.    That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the property, with subsequent capital receipts being recycled within the Empty Property Strategy programme be approved.

3.    That in the event that the property is improved and re-occupied to the satisfaction of the Director of City Housing and Environment, the withdrawal of the property from the CPO be authorised.

4.    That following any acquisition, the Director of City Housing and Environment be authorised to dispose of the property on the open market on condition that the property is refurbished and re-occupied within six or 12 months (as appropriate to the scale of the works).

5.    That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to:

a.      Take all reasonable steps as soon as it is reasonably practical to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.

b.      Approve agreements with the owners of the property setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO, and/or making arrangements for re-housing or relocation of any occupiers.

c.      Approve the making of a General Vesting Declaration (the property is brought into Council ownership via this process).

d.      Approve the disposal of the whole and/ or parts of the property by auction, tender or private treaty.