Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Housing Services

Cabinet agreed to a  “Design and Finance” competition to address the future use of Robinson House, with the competition brief informed and agreed by local residents and stakeholders.

2.2 That a further report be brought to Cabinet advising of the outcome of the competition and requesting Cabinet’s agreement to the proposed way forward.

2.3 That the brief aims to ensure that whatever scheme is proposed, future housing provision would be 100% affordable.

2.4       That the future of other SPAs be informed by the work carried out within this proposal for Robinson House.

Mr Grethe as the Chair of Brookside Residents Council commented that the Residents Council had had discussions with the Council and believed that Robinson House should be used for the homeless and improvements should be made to the building.  He expressed the hope that a Residents Council would be involved in how this project moved forward.

The Director of Housing submitted a report that proposed a way forward for dealing with the issue of Single Persons Accommodation.  Councillor Woods noted the appendix to the report which comprised a survey of residents conducted by S Keeble MP.  The Director in answer to a question commented that at the present time no particular options had been ruled in or out at this stage and that the consultation was due to run to the end of the financial year.

RESOLVED:         (1)         That agreement be given to a “design and finance” competition to address the future use of Robinson House with the competition brief informed and agreed by local residents and stakeholders.

(2)         That a further report be brought to Cabinet setting out the outcome of the competition and seeking agreement to a proposed way forward.

(3)         That whatever scheme is proposed future housing provision would be 100% affordable before that the future of other SPAs be informed by the work carried out within this proposal for Robinson House.