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.