Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor for (Supporting Communities)

The report provides details of a number of properties with outstanding Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) resolutions against them. All the properties have recently been inspected and are now occupied and fit for habitation and there is clearly not a need to maintain the threat of CPO action.

The Executive is recommended to agree that the previous Executive resolutions authorising the making of compulsory purchase orders in respect of all the individual properties detailed in the report be rescinded.

Officer contact: Sam McNichol, 0161 474 4242, sam.mcnichol@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Reform & Finance) and the Executive Councillor (Supporting Communities) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider rescinding previous resolutions passed by the Executive in respect of Compulsory Purchase Orders on residential properties. Since the resolutions had been made the properties had been inspected and were now occupied and fit for habitation.

RESOLVED – That, in view of the following properties listed below now being considered fit for habitation, the previous resolutions authorising the making of Compulsory Purchase Orders in respect of these individual properties be rescinded:-

·         218 Gorton Road, Reddish

·         70 Ladysmith Street, Shaw Heath

·         41 Menai Road, Shaw Heath

·         10-12 Greenbank Road, Gatley

·         13 Bankhall Road, Heaton Mersey

·         45 Berwick Avenue, Heaton Mersey

·         25 Douglas Road, Hazel Grove

·         61 Freemantle Street, Edgeley

·         2 Granby Road, Great Moor

·         36 Lime Grove, Cheadle

·         90 Stockport Road, Cheadle Heath

·         163 Stockport Road, Marple

·         Flats 1 to 4, 1 New Moor Lane, Hazel Grove

·         2 Butterfield Close, Cheadle Hulme

·         54 Great Moor Street, Great Moor

·         4 Upper Brook Street, Stockport

·         23 Vicarage Road Cale Green

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).

As part of the Council’s empty property strategy the Executive authority for compulsory purchase orders to be made to support the renovation and improvement of individual houses that were found to be unfit for habitation. This has proved very successful but on occasions the mere threat of the use of compulsion has led to houses being brought back into use without the use of compulsory purchase powers.

However even when compulsory purchase powers are not used the Executive authority remains and continues to be revealed on the results of local land charges searches and enquires. This has caused difficulties to owners and potential buyers of houses that are fit for use as the presence of the Executive authority to make a compulsory purchase order has frustrated and fettered the property transaction.

Action therefore needs to be taken to rescind the Executive authority to authorise the use of compulsory purchase powers as this will allow the resolution to be removed from the local land charges register.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on proposals to rescind Compulsory Purchase order resolutions on the properties named in the report.

Officer contact: Sam McNichol on 474 4242 or email: sam.mcnichol@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Development) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing proposals to rescind the Executive authority to authorise the use of compulsory purchase powers at a number of properties to allow the resolution to be removed from the local land charges register.

It was reported that as part of the Council’s empty property strategy there is Executive authority for compulsory purchase orders to be made to support the renovation and improvement of individual houses that were found to be unfit for habitation. This has proved very successful but on occasions the mere threat of the use of compulsion has led to houses being brought back into use without the use of compulsory purchase powers.

However, even when compulsory purchase powers are not used the Executive authority remains and continues to be revealed on the results of local land charges searches and enquires. This has caused difficulties to owners and potential buyers of houses that are fit for use as the presence of the Executive authority to make a compulsory purchase order has frustrated and fettered the property transaction.

RESOLVED – That the Executive be recommended to rescind Compulsory Purchase order resolutions on the properties named in the report.