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Regina Road, Norwood

Meeting: 16/11/2022 - Cabinet (Item 82)

82 Regina Road, Norwood pdf icon PDF 555 KB

This report proposes action to begin the process of addressing the current and recurring unsatisfactory situation at the Regina Road estate where three ageing tower blocks require intervention to ensure modern social housing fit for the 21st Century.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet is recommended to:

 

       i.          Consider and approve the proposed arrangements for consulting with secure tenants and introductory tenants on matters of housing management for the purposes of sections 105 of the Housing Act 1985 and 137 of the Housing Act 1996 as set out in Appendix 1

 

      ii.          Agree that residents be consulted in accordance with Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 and, to the extent relevant, under section 137 of the Housing Act 1996 on the proposals to refurbish or demolish and redevelop those properties within the Regina Road estate, as defined on the plan attached as Appendix 2.

 

    iii.          Note at Appendix 3 the comments arising from early engagement with tenants, leaseholders and freeholders in the Regina Road area at the resident engagement workshops held locally during October.

 

    iv.          Agree that residents (including tenants, leaseholders and freeholders) be consulted on the proposed contents of the Tenant and Leaseholder/Freeholder Offers at Appendices 4 and 5 for those properties within the Regina Road estate, as defined on the plan attached as Appendix 2.

 

     v.          The outcome of the consultations at recommendations ii) and iv be reported back to the Mayor and Cabinet in early 2023.

 

    vi.          Subject to the outcome of the consultations, a report be brought back to the Mayor and Cabinet on a ballot of residents for the purpose of GLA funding.

 

  vii.          Agree that no further tenancies, permanent or temporary, be granted at any of the properties within the Regina Road estate, as defined on the plan attached at Appendix 2, with the exception of properties - nos 89-123, 112,114, 116-126, & 128 Regina Road, & 1-4B & 5-8B Sunnybank - which can only be used for non-secure licensees when vacancies occur because these properties do not suffer from the same conditions and issues as the tower blocks.

 

 viii.          Agree to the appointment of an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder advisor to provide independent support to tenants, leaseholders and freeholders throughout the consultation period and up to and including any ballot/s.

 

    ix.          Approve all necessary expenditure up to £300,000 in 2022/23, including architectural fees, surveys, option appraisals, and an Independent Tenant & Leaseholder Advisor, as detailed in paragraph 9.4, and funded by a virement from within the HRA.

 

Minutes:

The Executive Mayor advised that an amendment to the published recommendations would be made and recorded in the resolution.

 

Cabinet considered a report, which proposed action to begin the process of addressing the current and recurring unsatisfactory situation at the Regina Road estate where three ageing tower blocks required intervention to ensure modern social housing fit for the 21st Century.  It was reported that the unsatisfactory situation had developed over recent years because of the failure to resolve key maintenance issues and to respond in a timely way to the conditions highlighted at Regina Road.

 

The report included a review of studies previously commissioned by the Council, a summary of the experiences of some other local authorities who had faced similar issues with their tower blocks and a review of research conducted by the Building Research Establishment on Large Panel Systems.  It was noted that these had led to a conclusion that the Council must either commit to significant refurbishment works or demolish and rebuild the tower blocks at Regina Road.

 

The report also set out for approval the Council’s draft statutory arrangement for consulting with tenants on housing management matters; the proposal for consultation on the options to refurbish or demolish and redevelop Regina Road estate under these arrangements and the proposal for consultation on draft Resident Offers for tenants and leaseholders/freeholders on the estate.  It was further noted that the residents would be consulted on these proposals during December and January and the outcome reported back to the Executive Mayor and Cabinet in early 2023.

 

The Cabinet Member for Homes said that this had been the first step in tackling the situation at Regina Road and that the Council was committed to listening more carefully to what residents have to say. 

 

The Executive mayor said that Recommendation ix could be more specific in terms of how much and where the money would come from for the current financial year pending a decision by Cabinet early in 2023, having listened to the residents during statutory consultation.

 

Therefore, in relation to Recommendation ix, he amended it to read ‘Approve all necessary expenditure up to £300,000 in 2022/23, including architectural fees, surveys, option appraisals, and an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advisor, as detailed in paragraph 9.4, and funded by a virement from within the HRA.

 

Accordingly, the Executive Mayor, in Cabinet, RESOLVED that:

 

1.            the proposed arrangements for consulting with secure tenants and introductory tenants on matters of housing management for the purposes of Sections 105 of the Housing Act 1985 and 137 of the Housing Act 1996, as set out in Appendix 1, be approved.

 

2.            residents be consulted in accordance with Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 and, to the extent relevant, under Section 137 of the Housing Act 1996 on the proposals to refurbish or demolish and redevelop those properties within the Regina Road estate, as defined on the plan attached as Appendix 2.

 

3.            the comments arising from early engagement with tenants, leaseholders and freeholders  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82