Issue - meetings

[To approve the cessation of letting identified void properties and rehouse tenants (where required) to allow specialist surveys to be undertaken]

1.      That the requirement to hold a total of 18 void properties within the six tower-blocks built using the Large Panel Systems (LPS) to enable the completion of specialist surveys be approved.

2.      That suitable void properties within the each of the six tower-blocks be held to allow the survey work to be carried out.

3.      That the rehousing of the tenants from these dwellings following a consultation period and housing needs assessment be approved.

4.      That a level of compensation payment and disturbance payments as detailed in exempt Appendix 2 to the report for those tenants in identified properties within the six tower blocks to voluntarily move to suitable, alternative accommodation to decant the property in order to carry out the specialist surveys be approved.

5.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of City Environment, to agree any alternative compensation payment and disturbance payment to that detailed in exempt Appendix 2 to the report under exceptional circumstances.

6.      That it be noted that a further report on the outcome of the testing and the future investment or regeneration of these tower blocks would be presented to a future meeting.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal presented the report on arrangements to carry out surveys of six council owned tower blocks constructed using the large panel system to determine their safety. The surveys were in response to a requirement in a circular issued to local authorities from the then Department for Communities and Local Government. Testing would be required of 18 flats in total. To enable the survey work to be undertaken and minimise the disruption to existing tenants, it would be necessary to utilise void properties in the tower blocks.

Resolved:

1.    That the requirement to hold a total of 18 void properties within the six tower-blocks built using the Large Panel Systems (LPS) to enable the completion of specialist surveys be approved.

2.    That suitable void properties within the each of the six tower-blocks be held to allow the survey work to be carried out.

3.    That the rehousing of the tenants from these dwellings following a consultation period and housing needs assessment be approved.

4.    That a level of compensation payment and disturbance payments as detailed in exempt Appendix 2 to the report for those tenants in identified properties within the six tower blocks to voluntarily move to suitable, alternative accommodation to decant the property in order to carry out the specialist surveys be approved.

5.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the Director of City Environment, to agree any alternative compensation payment and disturbance payment to that detailed in exempt Appendix 2 to the report under exceptional circumstances.

6.    That it be noted that a further report on the outcome of the testing and the future investment or regeneration of these tower blocks would be presented to a future meeting.