Purpose

The report seeks approval to acquire
affordable housing opportunities from the market, to be funded from
the HRA Acquisitions Budget for Crawley Homes ownership.

Content

Exempt Paragraph 3 -
Information relating to
financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding
that information)

RESOLVED

That the
Cabinet:

a)    
Agrees that the
acquisition methods, listed in Section 5.1 of report CH/201, be
made available to relevant officers to maximise the Council’s
opportunity to purchase land and housing schemes for affordable
housing delivery purposes, and that the Full Council be requested to delegate
authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Head
of Corporate Finance, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of
the Governance Committee that the Constitution (and its associated
documents) be updated accordingly.

 
b)    
Agrees to proceed with the
acquisition of the off-plan
‘turnkey’ purchase as referenced in Section 5.2 of
report CH/201, subject to satisfactory due diligence and
procurement compliance and budget
availability.

 
c)     
Agrees to proceed with the
land acquisition as referenced in Section 5.3 of report CH/201,
subject to satisfactory due diligence and procurement compliance
and budget availability.

 
d)    
That, subject to
recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates
authority to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Housing, Head of Strategic Housing/Head of
Crawley Homes (as appropriate), Head of Governance, People &
Performance to approve the award of the contract
(including a procurement
process if necessary).

 
e)    
That, subject to
recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates the
negotiation, approval (including a procurement process if
necessary) and completion of all relevant legal documentation to
secure additional affordable housing for the acquisitions
identified in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of report CH/201 to the Head of
Crawley Homes/Head of Strategic Housing (as appropriate), Head of
Corporate Finance and Head of Governance, People & Performance,
in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet
Member for Housing. (Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used
to enact this recommendation).

Reasons for the
Recommendations
 
The Council has an active housing delivery programme
aimed at addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in the
borough, where Crawley has a limited land supply, and opportunities
need to be explored from across the market, which may arise in a
range of different forms, and Officers require the authority to
explore viable options that may arise, and to proceed into contract
when appropriate, following the necessary consultation.