Agenda item

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Legal Services.

It was resolved to adopt the amendments to the Officers’ Delegation Scheme relating to the acquisition and disposal of land.

The report was submitted, noting that reports sometimes came with a change in the constitution. This was one of them. It was expressed that this work was the fruits of the labour of collaboration between the Legal Department and the Housing and Property Department to adapt the thresholds for buying, selling and letting land. It was explained that this was because of a change in land costs over the past year. As a result, there was a need to revisit the delegation scheme.

It was detailed that the current procedure was difficult to understand and its wording was vague, and that it had been the subject of some confusion in terms of officer rights. It was explained that the new delegation scheme had higher values, as the vast majority of decisions were made almost without exception by means of a Cabinet Member decision notice. It was expressed that the new arrangements facilitated the department's efficiency. It was emphasised, obviously as with other Delegation Schemes, conditions would be subject to aspects such as Council policies, standing orders and consultation with local members when disposing of land. It was noted that the latest Scheme provided more flexibility but ensured regular communication with the Cabinet Member.

It was noted that the Scheme had been submitted to the Governance and Audit Committee, who had supported it. It was emphasised that this scheme was moving from an unclear position to a modern procedure. It was explained that the Legal Department had looked at similar schemes across North Wales, and that the Council was going for a middle-ground scheme in comparison.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations.

One member expressed their objection to the Scheme as there were cases where the Council was buying houses with a 106 condition on them, and thus reduced the stock of scarce affordable housing available in the county. Attention was drawn to a case where the Council had offered a price that was much higher than the asking price, which prevented a local person from buying the house. It was expressed that this was the risk posed by delegating the decision to officers and the need for Cabinet Members to continue to make the decision was noted, as the Members believed that a democratic body should make the decision.

Officers responded by noting that the Scheme did not change rights, but rather changed the financial threshold. It was explained that almost twenty years had passed since they had been set, and that they did not reflect today's rights. It was expressed in this case and it was noted that this had happened at the start of the house purchase and that a solution had been found immediately. It was noted that the Council did not want to compete with individuals when buying houses, but rather wanted to buy houses that did not sell or where there was a risk that they would be bought by someone from outside the county. It was emphasised that such decisions were only submitted before the Cabinet in very specific circumstances, and mainly it was a Cabinet Member decision.

RESOLVED

To adopt the amendments to the Delegation Scheme for Officers, about procuring and disposing of property.