Purpose

Further to approval of the HRA
budget 2024-29, this report details the delivery strategy for the
Council New Build and Acquisitions Programme

Decision

RESOLVED
that Cabinet:-
 

1.   
Delegates authority to the Group Leader Estates to
negotiate and agree terms for the acquisition of individual
properties in line with the Acquisitions Policy and recommendation
2; and
 

2.   
Delegates authority to the Head of Strategic
Housing, in consultation with the S151 Officer, to authorise the
acquisition of multiple properties up to the total value of
£15.000M over the 5 financial years (2024-2028);
and
 

3.   
Delegates authority to the Executive Director of
Core Services to negotiate, conclude and execute on behalf of the
council any document or agreement required to conclude the property
acquisitions; and
 

4.   
Delegates authority to the Group Leader Estates
to:
 
·      
Enter into
negotiations with any third-party landowner(s) or
property owners to acquire any interests or enter into agreements
to occupy land not in the ownership of the Council necessary to
deliver the New Build and Acquisition Strategy, by agreement where
possible. Also, to complete any variation to any existing leases on
the occupation of land owned by the local authority and where
necessary negotiate compensation payments following consultation
with Strategic Property Board.

 
·      
 Negotiate the terms and
conditions of any development agreements required with relevant
parties, including private developer(s) and housing providers to
deliver the New Build and Acquisition Strategy following
consultation with Strategic Property Board; and
 

5.   
Delegates authority to the Head of Property and
Executive Director of Growth and Sustainability to approve the use
of Council-owned land for affordable housing delivery noting any
potential decrease in/or nil land receipt and the impact on
management receipts subject to further Cabinet approval for
individual schemes; and
 

6.   
Authorises the Executive Director of Growth and
Sustainability to undertake all necessary steps to secure
development and delivery of the new build pipeline sites including
but not limited to public consultation and engagement on individual
sites, noting that each site will be subject to a further Cabinet
report, and approve (insofar as Cabinet is able to do so) the
preparation and progress any necessary statutory procedures
(including planning permission) required to develop and deliver the
proposed projects; and
 

7.   
Delegates authority to submit any full business
case(s) and conclude any funding process(es) (including the
negotiation of the terms and conditions) to the Council’s
Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Executive Director of
Growth and Sustainability and accept any available external grant
funding to contribute towards the delivery of new build affordable
homes; and
 

8.   
In principle, authorises the Head of Strategic
Housing, under the terms of the Barnsley Contract Procedure rules,
to seek tenders and incur costs for any aspect of the delivery of
the new build programme and appoint the successful tender
on the basis of most economically
advantageous bid; and to consider whether the works, services or
goods can be provided in-house, subject to value for money
considerations. (This could include but is not limited to the
external appointment of a legal and other service providers, and
costs associated with feasibility works and professional services
up to RIBA Stage 3 to allow the preparation of detailed cost plans
for Cabinet approval on individual new build schemes);
and
 

9.   
Delegates authority to the Executive Director of
Core Services, to, where necessary, complete due process and
documentation required to make and publish any Compulsory Purchase
Order’s (CPO) pursuant to relevant legislation, noting that
specific details of any identified CPO’s in relation to delivering the aims and
objectives of the New Build and Acquisition Strategy would be
subject to further Cabinet approval; and
 

10.Approves of the appropriation of all new build stock and
acquisitions into the Housing Revenue Account, which would be
managed by Berneslai Homes; and
 

11.Notes
the opportunity to charge Affordable Rent instead of Social Rent on
a site-by-site basis through future Cabinet reports for individual
new build schemes; and
 

12.Notes
the planned development of a longer-term strategic approach for the
future of Council Housing stock aligned to the 30-year HRA business
plan; and
 

13.Notes
£14.2M of £30.0M previously approved decarbonation
programme has been deprioritised in the MTFS which was approved as
part of the 2024/2025 HRA Business Plan budget cabinet report
approval.