Issue - meetings

To consider a proposal for the disposal of Hewell Road swimming baths and adjacent play area (appendix 1) for the development of affordable housing.

(Appendix 3 to this report contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended. For this reason it has been circulated to Members and relevant Officers only.)

(Report attached)

Members considered a report which proposed the disposal of the Hewell Road Pool site to a Registered Provider for the development of affordable housing.

There was some discussion around the criteria used for the assessing of the Registered Providers’ bids and whether any one Group might be advantaged or disadvantaged by the proposed scoring system. Officers were of the opinion that all the potential providers would be in a position to apply on equal terms for the right to develop.

The value of the site was also a matter raised by a Member. The suggestion that the site be handed to a Registered Provider for as little as £1 was queried in light of the Council’s obligation to dispose of land for the best consideration. Officers confirmed that disposals at less than best consideration were permissible under certain circumstances and explained that the disposal in this case would also involve the clearance of the site by the developer and insurance against restrictive covenants and similar risks.

There was widespread agreement that the proposed affordable housing on the site was to be welcomed

RESOLVED that

1)        the option to dispose of the Hewell Road swimming baths site and the adjacent play area (plan at appendix 1) by sale or transfer for the development of affordable housing to a Registered Provider from the Council’s Preferred Partner list be pursued;

2)        the selection criteria (appendix 2) be agreed;

3)        Officers invite development submissions for the site from the Council’s Preferred Partner Registered Providers;

4)        a selection panel be formed of Members, and supported by Officers to assess and evaluate the submissions and nominate the proposed partner; and

5)        the selection panel brings a further report to the Executive Committee for the formal selection of the successful submission.

(During consideration of this item, Councillor Bill Hartnett declared an other disclosable interest as a Member of the Board of Redditch Co-operative Homes, appointed by the Council, and vacated the Chair and the Chamber for the duration of this item. The Vice-Chair, Councillor Chance, assumed the Chair in Councillor Hartnett’s absence.)