Agenda item - Home Purchase Policy Opportunity - Appropriation of 84 Coombe Road, Brighton

Report of Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing and Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

That the Housing & New Homes Committee recommends to Policy, Resources and Growth Committee that it:-

(1)            appropriates 84 Coombe Road, Brighton from existing purposes to Housing Act purposes;

(2)            agrees that the General Fund should receive the value of £290,000 in consideration for the appropriation at recommendation 2.1.1;

(3)            authorises the retention of the net capital receipt to be used for reinvestment by Families Children and Learning to support the integration of disability services by co-locating the teams in Wellington House; and

(4)            notes that the appropriation referred to at 2.1.1 above will take place when the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee makes the decision to appropriate (assuming that the Committee approves the recommendation) and that the funds referred to at 2.1.2 will be transferred following that decision.

59.1   The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing and the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture which sought approval for the appropriation of 84 Coombe Road, a three bedroom residential property currently owned by the General Fund to Part II of Housing Act 1985, financed through the Home Purchase Policy. The property was a vacant school caretaker’s house that had been declared surplus to requirement and was managed centrally by Property & Design.  The report was presented by the Housing Strategy & Enabling Manager who reported that the property had been valued at £290,000 which was value for money and made the purchase viable.

59.2   Councillor Gibson expressed the view that the purchase of the property was a really good opportunity and he wholeheartedly supported it. Councillor Mears informed members that the Conservative Group were happy with the recommendations.

59.3   The Chair stated that the proposal represented good value for money for the local authority.

59.4   RESOLVED:-

That the Housing & New Homes Committee recommends to Policy, Resources and Growth Committee that it:-

(1)            appropriates 84 Coombe Road, Brighton from existing purposes to Housing Act purposes;

(2)            agrees that the General Fund should receive the value of £290,000 in consideration for the appropriation at recommendation 2.1.1;

(3)            authorises the retention of the net capital receipt to be used for reinvestment by Families Children and Learning to support the integration of disability services by co-locating the teams in Wellington House; and

(4)            notes that the appropriation referred to at 2.1.1 above will take place when the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee makes the decision to appropriate (assuming that the Committee approves the recommendation) and that the funds referred to at 2.1.2 will be transferred following that decision.