Decision details

The Council gave consideration to a report outlining a proposal by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) to demolish and redevelop, or dispose of, a number of properties in Campbeltown and Dunoon which had been identified as no longer suitable to retain within its housing stock due to age, disrepair and ongoing maintenance costs.

Decision

The Council –

1.     approved ACHA’s proposals to remove 44 units from the affordable rented stock at Dalintober, Campbeltown by means of demolition by a formal amendment to the Transfer Agreement noting that funding was in place to build 24 new build properties on the site;

2.     approved ACHA’s request to sell a further 7 properties in Campbeltown on the open market subject to the consent of the Scottish Ministers being obtained prior to any sale, and satisfactory financial justification being received by the Council;

3.     approved ACHA’s request to sell 4 properties in the Dunoon area on the open market subject to the consent of the Scottish Ministers being obtained prior to any sale, and satisfactory financial justification being received by the Council;

4.     delegated to the Council’s Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support, the Leader of the Council, the Depute Leader, the Leader of the largest Opposition Group and the Policy Lead for Finance and Commercial Services for approval of the necessary financial justifications;

5.     retrospectively approved the demolition of 34 units at Eton Avenue, Dunoon noting that new build housing had been delivered on the site through the SHIP to meet the specific needs of families in the Dunoon area;

6.     noted ACHA’s sale of 15 properties across Argyll and Bute in line with the stock rationalisation approval granted by the Council in February 2018;

7.     supported ACHA’s request to the Scottish Government to exclude any disposals undertaken as part of these proposals from the tripartite Disposal Clawback Agreement;

8.     agreed to advise ACHA that the proposed demolitions would require to be the subject of separate approvals from the Council as the Planning and Building Control Authority noting that ACHA would also be reminded that they would remain responsible for the maintenance of the areas of land detailed in the submitted report;

9.     agreed to advise ACHA that any future proposals to dispose of any of the land freed up by the demolitions would be subject to approval from Argyll and Bute Council; and

10. agreed to advise ACHA that any property or dwelling sold on the open market must be sold with title burdens securing in perpetuity principal occupation either through owner occupation or private rented tenancy.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth dated June 2024, submitted)