Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities

Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Housing and Health Manager and the above Cabinet Member, which set out the option of a £180,000 commuted sum to Optivo Housing Association, towards the cost of delivering affordable housing on two Council-owned sites.

The Cabinet Member referred to paragraphs 1.1 and 2.3 in the report and explained that there was no spend-by date for the money, and there was very little opportunity to do anything else with the two sites, as adjacent land was owned by Optivo.

A Member welcomed the report, and another Member asked the Cabinet Member how he arrived at the figures set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.  The Cabinet Member responded by saying that this was what the Council and Optivo had thought was the optimum arrangement to get the best use of the money.  The Strategic Housing and Health Manager explained that the detail had been provided by Optivo, and it was double-checked with them, that they could deliver this amount of housing.

A Member considered the report did not include the full facts of the overall transaction between the Council and Optivo.  The Cabinet Member explained the process that had taken place, as noted in the report, and looked forward to the scheme going forward.

Resolved:

(1)      That the allocation of £180,000 commuted sum to Optivo Housing Association towards the costs of delivering affordable housing on two Council owned sites at Evergreen Close, Iwade and Colegates Close, Oare be approved.