Decision details

The Housing Manager submitted a report seeking approval to dispose of 29 Cobden Road, Chesterfield, as well as of the adjacent garage site.

The Housing Manager noted that over time the council had acquired a number of miscellaneous residential properties which had been held within the Housing Revenue Account and managed by the Housing Service. These properties were not ‘traditional’ council houses, in that they were not situated on the large municipal estates and had had a variety of uses over the years. The property at 29 Cobden Road had previously been used as accommodation by a supported housing provider, but had been empty since 2013. The reported noted that despite efforts to offer the property to other supported housing providers, due to Derbyshire County Council significantly cutting supported housing budgets the property was no longer viable for a provider to take on and use as supported housing.

The report included details of the alternative options for the site which had been considered and subsequently rejected; including leasing to another supported housing provider, refurbishment and subsequent sale as well as appropriation in to the Housing General Fund. It was recommended that the option that offered the best value for the council, and which would maximise the amount of the capital receipt realised for investment in the Housing Capital Investment Programme, was to sell the property on the open market. The report also recommended that that the adjacent garage site should also be sold. The alternative option for the garage site of investing in essential improvements to the garages had been discounted due to the high costs of the required improvement works and also the low level of returns offered by this option.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the Housing Manager be authorised to dispose of 29 Cobden Road, Chesterfield.

2.   That the Housing Manager be authorised to dispose of the garage site adjacent to 29 Cobden Road, Chesterfield and that there be an overage clause included in the terms of the sale to ensure that the council retains an interest in any future development value of the site.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.   To manage the council’s Housing assets effectively and to support the Housing Capital Development programme.

2.   To contribute to the Council’s Priorities - ‘to improve the quality of life for local people’ and ‘to provide value for money services’.