Agenda item - Review of Housing Revenue Account garages portfolio

Report of Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached).

1)         That the demolition of twelve garages in Dunster Close, Hollingdean, and one garage in Knoll Close, Hangleton, be agreed on grounds of their low demand, structural safety and negative financial impact on the HRA.

2)         That it is agreed to have a full options appraisal including off road parking, self-build and co-op housing, where possible generating income for the HRA.

3)         That it is noted that an overall strategy for HRA carparks and garages will come to the June committee, including development options.

72.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing which proposed the demolition of thirteen low demand and unviable garages, which were uneconomical to bring up to modern standards. The demolition of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) owned buildings required Housing & New Homes Committee approval.  It was proposed to convert the land the garages occupied into off street HRA parking spaces, to ease demand for parking in the locality and generate income, while at the same time reducing ongoing expenditure on these unviable assets.  The report was presented by the Housing Stock Review Manager.

72.2    Councillor Mears stressed that the committee had been receiving policies and strategies on this subject for a number of years.  It was now time to move forward. Councillor Mears hoped that the consultation set out in paragraph 3.1 would not lead to a long strategy report. 

72.3    Councillor Gibson asked for details on the cost of tarmacing.  Councillor Gibson referred to paragraph 5.3 with regard to the comments from the Central Panel.  He asked if this was a correct statement. Councillor Gibson asked if the sites could be developed for social housing.  Councillor Gibson asked why option 4.2 was medium to long term and not short to medium term.

72.4    The Housing Stock Review Manager explained that the main surfaces would be hard core and not tarmac. With regard to the comments of Central Panel, housing may be an option, especially modular housing.  With regard to the question about the medium to long term option, it was pointed out that the report before councillors was about demolition of the garages. Officers could come back with options for the future of the site.

72.5    Councillor Moonan was pleased to hear that the options would be revisited.  She asked if officers were confident that they could deal with fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. Councillor Moonan asked if there would be a demand for car parking spaces.

72.6    The Housing Stock Review Manager confirmed that there would be a demand for car parking spaces.  There had been fly tipping at the Dunster Close site which was being minimised with solid high boarding.

72.7    Councillor Mears proposed the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor Bell. 

          “To amend recommendation 2.2 as shown in bold italics below:

          Recommendations

          2.2 Agrees to replace the garages with off road parking spaces, where possible for rent, generating income for the HRA.  explore replacing the garages either with off road parking, self-build or Co-op Housing.” 

72.8    Councillor Mears stated that there had been a great deal of innovation around building housing on small sites. She was very keen to see more than car parking and tarmac. She stressed the need to do something productive. The small site would attract people who could not afford to develop larger sites.

72.9    Councillor Moonan informed members that she accepted the spirit of the amendment. She proposed an amendment to the amendment which was seconded by Councillor Hill, as follows:

          “To agree to a full options appraisal including off road parking, self-build and co-op housing, where possible generating income for the HRA.” 

72.10  Following a request from Councillor Mears the  Chair stated that the full options paper could be submitted to the June committee meeting.

72.11  Councillor Gibson welcomed the amendment and the amended amendment. 

72.12  RESOLVED:-

(1)      That the demolition of twelve garages in Dunster Close, Hollingdean, and one garage in Knoll Close, Hangleton, be agreed on grounds of their low demand, structural safety and negative financial impact on the HRA.

(2)      That it is agreed to have a full options appraisal including off road parking, self-build and co-op housing, where possible generating income for the HRA.

(3)      That it is noted that an overall strategy for HRA carparks and garages will come to the June committee, including development options.