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Housing development infills

Meeting: 01/07/2019 - Lewes District Council Cabinet (Item 16)

16 Housing finance for short term lettings development pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Ron Maskell

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To approve an increase in the General Fund Capital Programme budget for the scheme from £2.2m to £2.9m, with the additional £700,000 to be funded from Right to Buy Receipts.

 

(2) To report an amendment to a waiver previously approved to the Contract Procurement Rules (CPR), as set out in paragraph. 2.4.1(a) of CPR to allow the direct selection of a main contractor, due to the bespoke nature of the product required and time restrictions.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning seeking their approval for spending “Right to Buy Receipts” on a development scheme to provide 13 flats to meet the Council’s need for access to short term lettings.

 

Visiting member, Councillor Saunders, addressed the Cabinet and raised concerns about the suitability of the site and financially best value for money. It was requested that the development be considered at a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

 

In response to a question from visiting member, Councillor Nicholson, the Director of Regeneration and Planning stated that the cost of the scheme reflected the site and the units installed, whilst used for temporary accommodation would be there long term. The scheme would result in direct financial savings to the Council (avoiding the cost of expensive B&B accommodation) and provide social cost savings to the individuals concerned.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To approve an increase in the General Fund Capital Programme budget for the scheme from £2.2m to £2.9m, with the additional £700,000 to be funded from Right to Buy Receipts.

 

(2) To report an amendment to a waiver previously approved to the Contract Procurement Rules (CPR), as set out in paragraph. 2.4.1(a) of CPR to allow the direct selection of a main contractor, due to the bespoke nature of the product required and time restrictions.

 

Reasons for decisions:

 

(1) In October 2018 Cabinet approved a report to spend up to £2.2m on the development of housing for temporary accommodation, following on from a £2.2m budget amendment in February 2018 at a Full Council meeting. The budget amendment was made on the basis of an appraisal for a scheme built on a flat empty site, with no specific investment in sustainability or reducing the environmental impact.

 

(2) The October 2018 report included a waiver to the Contract Procedure Rules (CPR) to directly select an appropriate modular housing contractor. Although the approved contractor is still due to deliver the scheme, a ground works contractor has been added to the waiver, by the Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Leader of the Council under CPR 2.4.1b.