Decision details

Cabinet considered a report recommending that the council enter into a new contract for works to two buildings within its housing stock, subject to the approval of the required budget by full council.

The proposed works are a 3 phase programme of structural works and passive fire works at 4-15 and 19-23 Royal Crescent, Ramsgate.

The value of the estimated value of the contract is detailed in the report and exceeds £250,000.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1. The letting of the contract for the structural works and passive fire safety works at Royal Crescent, Ramsgate, as detailed in this report, subject to the approval of the required budget by full council;

2. The slippage of £800k from the current 2020/21 HRA capital programme against expenditure on this project during the financial year 2021/22;

3. Recommending to full council that the additional budget requirement of £1.978m be allocated to the HRA capital programme, from the HRA Major Repairs Reserve for the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24;

4.  The proposed options for the recharging of apportioned costs to leaseholders, as set out in section 6 of the cabinet report.

4-15 and 19-23 Royal Crescent, Ramsgate are grade 2 listed buildings considered to be of significant heritage value. Both buildings are in need of repair.

The approval of the additional budget that is required to complete the works as part of the Housing Revenue Account capital programme is a decision for full council.

The report identified the high cost of the works and the corresponding recharges to leaseholders and therefore some protections were agreed for leaseholders as set out in the report. This includes options to defer payment and an intent for the council to refer the final level of recharges to the First Tier Tribunal for an independent ruling.

Alternatives considered were:

1.  Not completing the works. This option was not agreed as the works are considered to be essential.

2.  Reducing or capping the recharges to leaseholders. This option was not agreed as legal advice obtained by the council indicated that any arbitrary cap on recharges would not be legal and that the council is under a duty to balance the needs of leaseholders and tenants.