Decision details

Council new build homes on land at Whitgreave Street, West Bromwich

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Resolved:-

 

(1) That approval be given to develop approximately 2355 m2 of land at Whitgreave Street, West Bromwich with new council housing for affordable rent, subject to planning permission, as shown for identification purposes only at Appendix 1.

 

(2) That the Director of Finance be authorised to allocate adequate

resources from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account to deliver the scheme and to utilise grant funding offered by Homes England, under the extended Homes England Strategic Partnership 1 Programme 2016 to 2021 to assist with the delivery of the project.

1.3 In connection with 1.1 and 1.2 above, approval be given to authorise the necessary steps for the delivery of the proposed project, including:

 

a) the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the

Director of Finance and the Director of Housing be authorised to

prepare tendering documentation and subsequently procure, in

accordance with any statutory regulations and the Council’s

Procurement and Financial Regulations;

 

b) execute any requirements in accordance with the Homes England Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) framework including appointing a contractor/contractors to develop, on behalf of the Council, the proposed housing scheme; to enter into or execute under seal any financial agreement in relation to the Homes England grant on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director of Finance;

 

c) that any necessary exemptions are made to the Council’s

Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules to enable the course

of action referred to b above to proceed;

 

d) subject to a, b and c above, the Director – Monitoring Officer be

authorised to enter into or execute under seal any documentation

in relation to award of the contract and/or development/partnership

agreement, Homes England developer status, licence,

undertaking, framework joining agreement, any consents or

applications required for Planning or Highways appertaining to the

delivery of the scheme and any other agreements with the

procured contractor(s) and with the Homes England, as may be

deemed necessary to facilitate development of the site with a

housing scheme as described in below on terms and conditions to

be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Growth;

 

e) the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the

Director of Housing and the Director of Finance be authorised to

accept a tender of up to 10% above the approved estimated costs

as a contingency to mitigate uncertain market conditions and

inflationary cost uplifts.

 

f) Subject to the practical completion of each property, the Director of Housing be authorised to manage and let the properties built in

accordance with the Council’s housing allocation policy.

 

g) That the following action points identified within the financial

appraisal of the funding application by Strategic Finance, be

implemented to reduce the risk to the Council:

·      That Cabinet consider the alternatives and are satisfied that the proposal to construct the new build homes will meet the Council’s objectives in the most appropriate manner.

·      That a process is developed to prioritise the development of site against pre-determined criteria and alternative options for achieving the Council’s housing objectives within each locality.

·      That the planned use of Right to Buy receipts is reviewed prior to the submission of a ‘firm scheme’ to Homes England to ensure that the project secures the most appropriate and financially advantageous source of funding.

That the relocation of the electricity sub-station and related lease are completed as a matter of urgency to ensure no delays to project timesca

Publication date: 23/06/2022

Date of decision: 22/06/2022

Decided at meeting: 22/06/2022 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: