Decision details

The Council considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery advising Members on progress regarding purchase of land and seeking authorisation to allow investigation of the compulsory purchase of additional land.

The report provided background information, including the decision by this Council on 6 August 2020 to purchase the land and Officer enquiries since that date.

The Leader of the Council presented the report and proposed that the recommendations as set out in the report be agreed.  This was duly seconded.

The Senior Specialist: Legal provided further background information regarding the agreement to purchase land and confirmed the proposed area to be purchased.  In response to a number of questions the Officer provided the Council with additional information including the compulsory purchase process, confirmed that the Parish Council would be kept informed and that she would be reporting back to the Council in respect of negotiations.

The Chairman then put the recommendations set out in the report which were duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)               that the Council approves, in principle, to use its Compulsory Purchase powers pursuant to section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 “to compulsorily purchase land, houses or other properties to provide housing accommodation” for the acquisition of the land outlined in red on the draft Map at Appendix 1 to the report (‘the Land’) in order to enable the Council to develop the Land as an affordable Housing Site;

(ii)              that the Director of Service Delivery be authorised to grant written authority to officers to enter onto the Land or other land for the purposes of carrying out surveys pursuant to section 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976;

(iii)            that the Director of Service Delivery be authorised to issue notices requisitioning information from persons in relation to the Land or other land pursuant to section16 of the Local Government Planning Act 1990;

(iv)            that (subject to using all reasonable endeavours to obtain the Land by agreement / private treaty) a detailed report in relation to the proposed Compulsory Purchase Order setting out justification and a statement of reasons will be presented to the Council in due course.

Councillors A S Fluker and M W Helm left the meeting during this item of business and did not return.