The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking approval to appropriate four vacant sites, earmarked for housing in the Local Plan, from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account, in order that they be considered for the development of new council housing.  Appendix 1 to the report set out the anticipated market value of the sites and the calculation of the proposed ongoing revenue saving.

The report noted that the Council’s Local Plan had designated several sites across the Borough for future housing delivery.  Four such sites were currently held in the Council’s General Fund, none of which have previously been used for housing purposes: Battle street, Amethyst Lane, Hexham Road and Dwyer Road.  All four sites had been deemed surplus to General Fund requirements as they were no longer required for their previous purpose.  It was therefore proposed that the four sites be appropriated from the General Fund to the Council’s Housing Revenue Account, for them to be considered for future housing development.  The report set out the arrangements for and financial implications of the transfer, and the calculation of the anticipated savings to the General Fund and costs to the Housing Revenue Account were set out at Appendix 1.

Resolved –

(1)      That the following vacant sites be declared surplus to General Fund requirements:

                            - Battle Street

                            - Amethyst Lane

                            - Hexham Road

                            - Dwyer Road                        

(2)      That the above sites be appropriated from the General Fund into the Housing Revenue Account with an effective date of 1 April 2020, in order that they be considered for the development of new council housing;

(3)      That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to enter into the necessary legal agreements to undertake the appropriation.