The Head of Housing and Property has submitted a report to initiate Compulsory Purchase proceedings in relation to a long term empty property at Cowley Road, Oxford in accordance with the approved Empty Homes Strategy 2013-2018.

Officer Recommendation: That the City Executive Board delegateauthority to the Head of Housing and Property, in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance, the Head of Finance and the Regeneration and Major Projects Service Manager, to initiate Compulsory Purchase proceedings (preferred option) to acquire all interests in the property situated in Cowley Road, Oxford and to then dispose of the property in accordance with the Disposal Options set out in this report.

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which sought to initiate compulsory purchase proceedings in relation to a long term empty property at Cowley Road, Oxford in accordance with the approved Empty Homes Strategy 2013-2018.

Cllr Seamons, Board Member for Housing and Estate Regeneration presented the report. He explained that it was important to the Council to bring empty houses back into use. It is rare to use a compulsory purchase order to do this but this property has been empty since 1996.

The Housing Needs Manager said there were 75 properties in the city that had been out of use for longer than 2 years.

This property had had squatters and had been damaged by arson. The Council had incurred cost in securing the property.

Officers are asking the Board to authorise the use of its CPO powers as a last resort. They will continue to engage with the owner to seek to get the property back into use.  If a CPO is required the statutory process will be followed.

The Board resolved to CONTINUE the discussion in private session so that the property owner could address the Board. The press and public left the room.

Appendices A, B and C to item 6: Compulsory Purchase Order- Cowley Road are exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraphs 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 for the following reason:

Appendix A – Site Plan – Para 2: information which is likely to reveal the individual of an individual

Appendix B – letter to Owner – Para 3: commercially sensitive business affairs of an individual

Appendix C – CPO costs and valuation – Para 3: commercially sensitive business affairs of the council

The City Executive Board resolved to AUTHORISE the Head of Housing and Property to continue to work with the property owner on a timetable designed to bring the property back into use within a reasonable timeframe. In the event that officers are not satisfied with the progress or speed of these discussions, the matter to be brought back to the Board.

That any final decision to initiate Compulsory Purchase proceedings be made by the Board.