A report from the Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care is attached. This invites Cabinet to authorise officers to make a compulsory purchase order on an empty residential property. (Key decision – reference number 3671)

(Report No.204)

(8.30 – 8.35 pm)

Councillor Ahmet Oykener (Cabinet Member for Housing) introduced the report of the Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care (No.204) inviting Cabinet to authorise Officers to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on 2 The Approach, Enfield, EN1 3PY, an empty residential property whose owners had proved unresponsive to attempts by Officers to bring it back into residential use.

NOTED

1.         the acute housing shortage and the Council’s policy to bring empty properties back into use wherever possible. The negative impact of such neglected properties on the local area was highlighted;

2.         that the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was only enforced when all other attempts by Officers to bring the property back into residential use had been exhausted. The financial implications of a CPO on an empty property were noted, as set out in the report.

Alternative Options Considered: All attempts to negotiate with, and assist the owners of this property to return it back into use had been exhausted. An assessment of the most appropriate course of enforcement action had therefore been carried out. All options had been considered, namely, service of legal notices, enforced sale, EDMOs and compulsory acquisition. The latter was deemed the most appropriate under the circumstances and would achieve a permanent solution. The other option the Council might pursue was to do nothing, as outlined in section 4.2 of the report.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to

1.         authorise the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (Order) in respect of 2 The Approach, Enfield, EN1 3PY, under Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) as shown on the plan attached as appendix 1 to the report;

2.         authorise the preparation of an Order, and supporting documentation and the taking of all necessary steps (including the conduct of a Public Inquiry if necessary) to obtain confirmation of the Order by the Secretary of State;

3.         authorise the acquisition of the property (either compulsorily or by agreement) following confirmation of the Order, the payment of compensation and statutory interest and the instituting or defending of proceedings where necessary; and

4.         authorise the disposal of the property in accordance with the Property Procedure Rules;

5.         note that the Council was liable to make basic loss payments to former owners, subject to certain criteria. These would be met from central contingencies when required, as approved by the budget report to Cabinet on 13 February 2013.

Reason: The compulsory purchase of this property, and its subsequent onward sale, would produce a quantitative and qualitative gain to the borough’s housing stock, would assist in the achievement of the Council’s housing strategies and would turn an existing eyesore into a much needed home. They would address the Council’s strategic supply, regeneration and sustainability objectives, together with the Government and Mayor of London’s expectations detailed in the report.

(Key decision – reference number 3671)