Agenda item

To consider the Draft South Holland District Council Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy (report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Projects enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Projects to consider the draft South Holland District Council Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy.

The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects introduced the report by thanking Councillor Redgate and Councillor Booth for their support with the policy and stated that the Strategic Property Manager would be responsible for the delivery of the policy.

The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects highlighted the main points of the policy, which included:

• a definition and background of the policy - the policy was wider than enforcement alone;
• the impact of problem sites on communities;
• the link to the Council’s Corporate Plan;
• the history of the Pride in South Holland programme;
• the process for reporting derelict and untidy sites;
• information management including partnership working, for example working with the police;
• options for addressing dereliction - the process had not changed but the pathway was clearly set out in the policy;
• the three-step intervention options; and
• commitments;

Members considered the policy and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the policy and thanked the Assistant Director – Strategic Projects, Councillor Booth and Councillor Redgate for their work on the policy.

• Members acknowledged that the new policy had taken sustained effort and time which was deemed necessary due to the breadth of the subject, and in order to fulfil expectations of both the public and members.

• Members stated that the policy demonstrated progress and allowed the Council to work with landowners and building owners to shape problem sites into long-term sustainable sites for the district.

• Members were hopeful that the policy would be incorporated throughout the S&ELCP and enable progress to be made throughout partnership authorities.

• Members asked whether the Council’s stance on using its powers of ‘compulsory purchase’, as stated in the policy, was a strong enough deterrent for the emergence of problem sites.
  • The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects stated the levels of intervention the Council was able to take and what it would take, would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The three-step intervention process included the powers of compulsory purchase which could and would be pursued where appropriate. The policy wording would be reviewed to ensure that the message regarding this point was clear.

• Members asked whether a proposed timeline of actions had been discussed in order to avoid protracted periods between interventions.
  • The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects responded that:
    • set timelines would be challenging as each site had its own specific issues: some sites were tidied only to become untidy again whilst engagement with some site owners had been difficult. Nonetheless, the Assistant Director – Strategic Projects would consider whether a timeline would be beneficial /could be included.
    • Targets would be set to conduct the initial survey, after which time the case would fall within the three-step process; and
    • the Strategic Property Manager was due to conduct enquires/surveys over the next six weeks to bring the Council’s information up to date.

• Members referred to an untidy general refuse area and queried the volume of untidiness which would trigger the policy to take effect.
  • The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects stated that:
    • whilst all concerns should be reported, any that were not covered by the policy would be referred to the relevant service. In this case, general refuse issues would be referred to the Neighbourhoods Team.
    • It had been proposed that the Strategic Property Manager had access to all reported concerns so that the team had an overview of any related issues coming into the Council.

• Members asked whether a common reason had been ascertained for the existence of untidy sites; and could ‘prevention’ discussions be instigated where issues were anticipated.
  • The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects responded that:
    • the Council was aware of problem sites around the district;
    • the identification of responsibility/ownership could be challenging; engagement was not always forthcoming; and
    • early invention was key and the Strategic Property Manager would be reviewing initial concerns including monitoring changes of ownership and liaising with the Planning team.

• Members queried whether the Council registered a charge against a property where costly action to secure the site had been necessary. 
  • The Assistant Director – Strategic Projects confirmed that:
    • the default position was the recovery of costs;
    • enforcement regulations allowed charges to be made against properties; and
    • the Council could enforce a sale.

• The Panel agreed that the new policy be reviewed by the Panel 12 months after adoption.

AGREED:

a)    That the draft policy be amended to reflect comments made by the Panel prior to its submission to Cabinet in September 2022;

b)    With comments of the Panel noted, that the policy be adopted by Cabinet; and

c)       That the SHDC Derelict and Untidy Sites Policy be reviewed by the Policy Development Panel 12 months after adoption.