AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE HOUSING BOARD
WAS HELD ON 1 DECEMBER 2003
The Mayor (ex-officio), Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Cully) (ex-officio) (P), Councillors Allen , Carter (P), Mrs Cully (P), Farr (P), Francis (P), Gill (P), Hayward (P), P Russell (P), Smith (P) and Mrs Wright (Chairman) (P).
It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Orders, Councillor Hayward had been nominated as substitute for Councillor Burgess.
23. APOLOGIES
An apology for inability to attend the meeting was submitted on behalf of Councillor Allen.
PART I
24. PARTIAL TRANSFER BALLOT RESULT
Consideration was given to a report of the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is affixed in the Minute Book as Appendix "A").
The Board was advised that of 284 ballot papers despatched to tenants, 238 (83.80%) had been returned. Of these, 183 (76.89% of the valid vote) had voted in favour of the transfer to Kelsey Housing Association and 55 (23.11% of the valid vote) had voted against the transfer.
The Board was advised that of the 179 ballot papers despatched to leaseholders, 139 (77.65%) had been returned. Of these, 76 (54.68% of the valid vote) had voted in favour of the transfer to Kelsey Housing Association and 63 (45.32% of the valid vote) had voted against the transfer.
The Chairman of the Housing Board thanked the following on behalf of the Board:
· The tenants and leaseholders who took part in the ballot;
· The staff of the Housing Services Unit;
· Andrew Fellows, Patricia Bushell and Jane Porter and the staff of Kelsey Housing Association;
· Paul Raeburn and the staff of Tenants Initiatives;
· Gary Seabourne and Owen Cartledge , the Council's consultants;
· Keith Jenkins, Legal Adviser; and
· The members of the Tower Blocks Steering Group
In the circumstances, the recommendations in the Housing Services Manager's report were approved for consideration by Council on 3rd December 2003.
RECOMMENDED: That –
(i) an application for transfer be made to the First Secretary of State and that, if consent is given, the Council transfer ownership of the land concerned to Kelsey Housing Association at nil consideration, the land and homes to be transferred being within the land edged red on Appendix 2 of the Housing Services Manager's report (excluding the land coloured blue and brown) and subject to negotiations with Kelsey to agree the extent of the land to be transferred;
(ii) in the event of the required approvals being given, authority be given to the Borough Solicitor and the Housing Services Manager to enter into such documentation as is necessary to transfer the Council's five tower blocks and, subject to further negotiations as set out in (i) above, associated land to Kelsey Housing Association before 1st April 2004; and
(iii) thanks be extended to the residents' representatives of the Steering Group for the hard work and extraordinary commitment they have displayed during the Options Appraisal and Partial Transfer processes.
CHAIRMAN
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