Decision details

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Housing seeking a change in Council policy from awarding leases over Housing Revenue Account land  to granting sales of Housing Revenue Account land.

(i)  Where requests to purchase HRA land are received the authority will seek, wherever possible and in its best interests, to sell the land rather than to grant a lease or licence. 

(ii)  The existing mechanism of granting a lease or licence will be retained for situations where sale of the land would not be in the authority's best interests, for instance, where this might prejudice a subsequent development. 

The disposal of land to enable residents to improve their home or immediate environment and empowers local residents and will contribute to happy, sustainable communities

The Council could continue to adopt a position of leasing smaller packages of HRA land to applicants and not give the option of buying, except in exceptional circumstances as per existing policy.  This approach is not preferred as it limits residents’ ability to improve their home and immediate environment.  There is also a loss of potential income to the HRA if this approach is adopted.