Agenda and decisions

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the Salford City Council Constitution do hereby

1.    Approve the Council entering into a grant funding agreement with Homes England for the receipt of a maximum sum of £1,176,819 in relation to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (Marginal Viability Fund) for Plot E7/E8 Chapel Street.

2.    Approve the Council entering into a grant funding agreement with English Cities Fund for the provision of onward funding of the maximum sum of £1,176,819 in relation to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (Marginal Viability Fund) for Plot E7/E8 Chapel Street

3.    Provide delegated authority to the Strategic Director Place, City Solicitor and Chief Finance Officer to negotiate and finalise the detailed financial, commercial and contractual arrangements in respect of the proposed grant from Homes England to the Council.

4.    Provide delegated authority to the Strategic Director Place, City Solicitor and Chief Finance Officer to negotiate and finalise the detailed financial, commercial and contractual arrangements in respect of the proposed onward grant from the Council to English Cities Fund.

5.    Authorise the City Solicitor to enter into and complete all necessary agreements or documents to give effect to the above recommendations. 

The Reasons are to enable the council to draw down the Housing Investment Fund Marginal Viability grant funding from Homes England and to enable the council to enter into an onward grant funding agreement with English Cities Fund to pass on the council’s obligations under the grant agreement. 

Options considered and rejected were – None.

Assessment of Risk: Low – The obligations in the Grant Funding Agreement will be transferred to English Cities Fund via a back to back legal agreement.

The source of funding is Housing Investment Fund Marginal Viability.

Legal Advice obtained – Laura Gledhill, Principal Solicitor, Commercial Legal Team, Shared Legal Service

Financial Advice obtained – Natalie Birchall, Finance Officer

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: Report to The City Mayor’s Property/Regeneration Briefing on 12^th August 2019.

Contact Officers:

Ian Thompson, Principal Programme Manager, Investment, 0161 793 2415

Lyndsey Priestley, Project Manager, 0161 793 3444

*           This decision was published on Wednesday 14 August 2019                                             

*           This decision will come in force at 4.00 pm on Wednesday 21 August 2019  unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council constitution do hereby:

• Authorise the designation of a Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme, under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 in Langworthy, Weaste & Seedley area having regard to the evidence base, the consultation responses, the legislative requirements, non-statutory guidance  and confirms the boundary of the Scheme;

• Authorise the proposed fee structure for the Langworthy, Weaste & Seedley Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme;

• Authorise the proposed Licence Conditions for the Langworthy, Weaste & Seedley  Selective Landlord Licensing Scheme;

• Authorise officers to carry out all necessary actions to publicise the designation of the area for Selective Landlord Licensing so as to comply with the requirements of the Housing Act 2004.

The Reasons are that: having considered all of the available evidence and the representations made in accordance with the public consultation (and not withdrawn) I am satisfied that the first set of general conditions as laid out in section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 are met and that making a designation will, when combined with other measures taken in the area by the local housing authority, or by persons together with the local housing authority, contribute to the improvement of the social or economic conditions in the area.

I have considered whether there are any other courses of action available to the local housing authority that might provide an effective method of achieving the objective that the designation would be intended to achieve and consider that making the designation will significantly assist the local housing authority to achieve the objectives (whether or not they take any other course of action as well). It is considered that the scheme will complement the wider regeneration in the area that Salford City Council is helping to deliver.  Selective Licensing will address existing issues of poor property and tenancy management in privately rented accommodation.  The scheme will also ensure that new landlords investing in the designated area understand what is expected of them and will sustain the strong community that the regeneration programmes have worked hard to establish.

Options considered and rejected were: -

• Take no action – this would be inconsistent with established Council policy and would fail to address the legitimate concerns of residents, local elected members and other stakeholders regarding the impact of the private rented sector on the local housing market.
• Defer the introduction of selective licensing in Langworthy, Weaste & Seedley area – A review of available evidence and current policy identifies the area of Langworthy, Weaste & Seedley with the highest priority for the use of Selective Licensing.

Assessment of Risk. Low

The Council believes it has made a robust case for the designation of a Selective Licensing Scheme.  The consultation shows that there is support for the scheme amongst local residents; and some local landlords.

However, feedback received to the consultation on the proposal clearly shows that there is a need to more clearly  ...  view the full decision text for item 3b

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the Salford City Council Constitution do hereby approve the land on the East Side of Legh Street(Cheltenham Crescent Playing Field) Kersal, be declared as an Asset of Community Value and included on the council’s list as such

The Reasons are:  On 7^th November 2018 Bais Malka Ltd (t/a Beis Malka Girls School) nominated Cheltenham Crescent Playing Field for inclusion in Salford City Council’s List of Assets of Community Value. The nomination was accepted as valid on 17^th October 2018.

Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011, and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations, which together deliver the “Community Right to Bid”, aim to encourage communities to become more active in joining together to save and take over assets which are significant to them. The scheme gives communities the opportunity to identify assets of community value and have them listed on a List of Assets of Community Value that every council is required to maintain.

The council has a requirement to consider each application to have an asset listed against criteria set out in the legislation.

The criteria are essentially;

a)    The application comes from a Qualifying Group (as defined in the Act)

b)    That the asset to which the application refers does, or has in the recent past, have a principal use which furthers the communities’ social wellbeing or social interests

c)    The asset is realistically likely to further the communities’ social wellbeing or social interests in the future.

Options considered and rejected were: None, the City Council has a statutory requirement to consider and determine accordingly any applications submitted under Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011.

Assessment of Risk: Low If the Council accepts that the land is of community value  then the authority must include the land in its list of assets of community value.

Land that is listed as an asset of community value will remain on the list for a period of five years beginning with the date of the entry unless the owner enters into a ‘relevant disposal’ of the land in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

A ‘relevant disposal’ means a disposal of the freehold with vacant possession or the grant or assignment of a qualifying leasehold estate with vacant possession. A qualifying leasehold estate is one which, when granted, had at least 25 years to run.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Act does not provide community interest groups with a right to purchase assets, entitle them to a discount or give them first refusal on any purchase.

The source of funding: N/a

Legal Advice obtained: Ann Rowlands, Senior Lawyer of Joint Legal Service

Financial Advice obtained: Gemma Singleton, Salford City Council

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

·         Report to The City Mayor’s Property/Regeneration Briefing on 12^th August 2019.

·         Localism  ...  view the full decision text for item 3c

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

DISPOSAL OF LAND AT LIVERPOOL STREET, SALFORD

I, Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council’s constitution do hereby:-

1.    Approve the disposal of a site extending to approximately 3.46 acres (1.4 hectares) at Liverpool Street and Kara Street. to the preferred bidder, subject to a formal report to be brought forward approving the detailed terms and conditions

2.    Instruct and authorise Urban Vision Partnership to progress, negotiate and finalise heads of terms with the preferred bidder.

3.    Authorise Urban Vision Partnership to revert back to the remaining bidder to advise them that their bid has been unsuccessful.  

The Reasons: To facilitate the disposal of the site and generate a capital receipt for the Council.

The subject site which comprises two plots totalling 3.46 acres was marketed for sale in December 2018 for a residential led scheme. 9 bids were received and 2 were shortlisted by the City Mayor on the 25^th March 2019.

This decision to appoint a preferred developer for the Liverpool St/Kara St development opportunity with be subject to a further report once Ground Investigations and other investigations have been completed , but based on the proposals to date the scheme will deliver 149 units of which 60% will be affordable.

Both parties were requested to submit for pre-application planning advice and to submit further offers based on the advice given.

Officers have reviewed the offers submitted by the parties and approval is now sought to select the preferred bidder and negotiate the detailed terms and conditions which will be subject to formal approval.

Assessment of Risk is Low

The source of funding:  N/A

Legal Advice obtained:  Yes - David Green, Group Manager (Property)

     City Solicitor’s Division

 Financial Advice obtained:  Yes - Alex Archer, Finance Manager

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

Report submitted to Property/Regeneration Briefing on 12 August 2019

Contact Officer: Jane Ashworth (Urban Vision)Tel No 0161 779 6092

*           This decision was published on Wednesday 14 August 2019                                              

*           This decision will come in force at 4.00 pm on Wednesday 21 August 2019  unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.

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