Issue - meetings

Cabinet:

Approved the Compulsory Purchase Order Policy as the basis for considering the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land or property interests for the purpose of carrying out development, redevelopment or improvement, where there is a compelling case in the public interest to do so, subject to further minor amendments resulting from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee review.

This decision was first published on 21 October and so the deadline for call-in is 28 October at 5pm.

Cabinet:

Approved the Compulsory Purchase Order Policy as the basis for considering the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land or property interests for the purpose of carrying out development, redevelopment or improvement, where there is a compelling case in the public interest to do so, subject to further minor amendments resulting from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee review.

Cabinet considered a report from the Head of Finance. Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, detailing the reasoning behind the introduction of the policy, and thanked the Scrutiny and Overview Committee for their contributions to the published report, particularly the introduction of the exit strategy. Councillor Grenville Chamberlain, Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee believed the comments from the most recent meeting enabled an improved policy.

After a short discussion, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Bridget Smith closed the debate, and Cabinet:

Approved the Compulsory Purchase Order Policy as the basis for considering the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land or property interests for the purpose of carrying out development, redevelopment or improvement, where there is a compelling case in the public interest to do so, subject to further minor amendments resulting from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee review.

The Lead Cabinet Member for Finance presented the Compulsory Purchase Order Policy, which set out the approach, circumstances and conditions under which the council would consider the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land and property interests for the purpose of carrying out development, re-development or improvement where there was a compelling case in the public interest for doing so. He emphasised to the committee that these powers would be used as a last resort and the council’s intention was to always seek voluntary acquisition. It was important to have a policy in place to ensure a consistent approach when these powers were used.

Committee members made the following comments on, and suggested amendments to the policy:

·         It was queried whether any support could be given to vulnerable residents in obtaining an independent market valuation of their property when this was required.

·         A clear exit strategy was needed for cases when the council had used its compulsory purchase powers to purchase a property.

·         The addition of ‘environmental net gain’ was requested to paragraph 5.

·         It was suggested that ‘including energy efficiency’ in relation to defective properties, should be added to paragraph 5 of the policy. The Lead Cabinet Member for Finance would look at this.

·         The addition of the wording ‘and other acts where appropriate power is given’ to paragraph 8d was suggested.

·         Wording should be amended at paragraph 22 to the following (the suggested amendment is shown in bold text); ‘If a voluntary agreement cannot be reached, the Council will seek to make a CPO, and the property should be compulsory purchased at market value.’.

·         The Chief Executive should also be added to the Governance of the policy paragraph, in addition to the Chief Operating Officer.

Subject to the comments made by committee members, the Scrutiny and Overview Committee supported the adoption of the Compulsory Purchase Order Policy.