Issue - meetings

1.1                  This report seeks the approval of Cabinet to the terms for the acquisition of a first of these identified sites, that of Ujima House and its car park in order to progress the implementation of the Wembley Housing Zone and agreement to enter into a contract with the Greater London Authority to fund the acquisition of the property.

(i)         that approval be given to enter into a contract for the acquisition by the council of Ujima House and its car park on the terms set out in Appendix One to this report, with approval of the final terms to be delegated to the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing;

(ii)        that approval be given to enter into a funding contract with the Greater London Authority to receive Housing Zone grant to fund the acquisition of Ujima House and car park, with approval of the final terms of the funding agreement to be delegated to the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Councillor Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report stating that the Wembley Housing Zone was designated by the GLA last year with the aim to accelerate housing and affordable housing development and to promote regeneration.

He stated that in July 2015 Cabinet approved the approach which was to bring forward a programme of acquisition and development of a number of sites between Wembley town centre and the regeneration underway on the Stadium lands, including the council-owned site due to be released through the construction of the new Ark Elvin Academy. Cabinet also approved entering into a legal agreement with the GLA to secure their funding support and this has been concluded.

Councillor Farah stated that discussions were underway with the owners of a number of identified sites in order to establish the development programme.

He informed members that the report sought the approval of Cabinet to the terms for the acquisition of a first of these identified sites, that of Ujima House and its car park in order to progress the implementation of the Wembley Housing Zone and agreement to enter into a contract with the Greater London Authority to fund the acquisition of the property.

The Cabinet also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to enter into a contract for the acquisition by the council of Ujima House and its car park on the terms set out in Appendix One to the report, with approval of the final terms to be delegated to the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing;

(ii)        that approval be given to enter into a funding contract with the Greater London Authority to receive Housing Zone grant to fund the acquisition of Ujima House and car park, with approval of the final terms of the funding agreement to be delegated to the Strategic Director, Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing.