Issue - meetings

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

1.       That the Strategic Director for City Housing or the Strategic Director for Place be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the site of former public house Willis Pearson Avenue/ Rowley View, Bilston. WV14 8DA, and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Section 17 of Part 2 of the Housing Act 1985 and/ or Section 226 Part 9 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.       That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the site, and its subsequent development for Council housing, from within the existing Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme be approved.

3.       That the land be withdrawn from the CPO if development of the site is progressed by the current owner to the satisfaction of the Strategic Director for City Housing.

4.       That the Director of Governance be authorised to take the following action should it not be possible to agree terms for the acquisition of the site by negotiation:

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 land 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 land is brought into Council ownership via this process).

5.   That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for City Housing or the Strategic Director for Place, following any acquisition, to approve detailed proposals for development of the site by the City of Wolverhampton Council for council housing.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the report on proposals to authorise the acquisition of the derelict site of the former Public House at Willis Pearson Avenue/Rowley View Bilston by either negotiation or via compulsory purchase and to retain the site for the development of new council housing.

The site had been the subject of persistent anti-social behaviour and fly tipping following the closure and subsequent demolition of the “Patchbox” public house. Discussions with the site owners over a number of years had not established meaningful proposals for the site or a timescale for implementation. It was now considered appropriate to progress the acquisition of the site in order to ensure that development occurs and a long-term solution to the ongoing blight caused by the site was implemented.

Councillor Val Gibson reported that the site of the former Patchbox public house had been used to fly tip for years and had been a blight on the area.  The CPO was long awaited and welcomed.

Resolved:

1.     That the Strategic Director for City Housing or the Strategic Director for Place be authorised to negotiate terms for the acquisition of the site of former public house Willis Pearson Avenue/ Rowley View, Bilston. WV14 8DA, and, in default of that acquisition, give authority for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to be made under Section 17 of Part 2 of the Housing Act 1985 and/ or Section 226 Part 9 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.     That expenditure for the potential acquisition of the site, and its subsequent development for Council housing, from within the existing Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme be approved.

3.     That the land be withdrawn from the CPO if development of the site is progressed by the current owner to the satisfaction of the Strategic Director for City Housing.

4.     That the Director of Governance be authorised to take the following action should it not be possible to agree terms for the acquisition of the site by negotiation:

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 land 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 land is brought into Council ownership via this process).

5.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Strategic Director for City Housing or the Strategic Director for Place, following any acquisition, to approve detailed proposals for development of the site by the City of Wolverhampton Council for council housing.