West Lancashire Council buys new council housing stock from housing association in Skelmersdale
More than 50 occupied homes in Skelmersdale are to be bought by West Lancashire Council from a housing association, in a bid to increase council housing stock.
West Lancashire councillors backed the mass purchase following recommendations made at the latest full meeting of the council, along with other housing and land proposals.
The 55 occupied homes are at Whalleys Road, Skelmersdale, and will be purchased from London & Quadrant Housing (L&Q), subject to various conditions being met, councillors were told.
Councillors also agreed that West Lancashire’s assistant director of housing should be given delegated authority to take ‘all necessary steps and actions to purchase the properties, and to procure and enter such contracts that are required’.
Labour-run West Lancashire Council has an existing stock of housing but is building new properties too with its own company, Tawd Valley Developments.
It is also taking other measures, such as buying homes from other housing organisations or owners, and demolishing some old sites to develop new schemes.
The latest decisions about Skelmersdale were taken during a short private session at the full council, without press or the public in attendance - councils are allowed to hold temporary private sessions to discuss sensitive contract or financial information, if formally agreed by a majority of councillors in a vote.
Views on housing and other council decisions can sometimes differ between the political parties at West Lancashire Council – Labour, Conservatives, Our West Lancashire and Independents.
Differences can relate to council property or land plans, finance and budgets, project management or scrutiny of schemes or organisations such as Tawd Valley Developments.
However, ruling Labour councillors say the right arrangements are in place and privacy is sometimes needed for some topics, based on independent officers’ recommendations.-Labour’s Nicola Pryce-Roberts has a leading remit for housing and the latest schemes.
Also discussed in private was a plan to redevelop a former sheltered accommodation at Hall Green Close, Up Holland.
Councillors agreed existing buildings there could be demolished and a proposed new housing scheme, as set out in a report, be approved.
Again, they agreed that the council’s assistant director of housing should be given delegated authority to take all necessary steps and actions, and to procure and enter contracts, required for demolition and delivery of the new scheme.
Similar approval was given for another housing scheme at Egerton, Skelmersdale.
Also agreed was the conditional sale of some town centre land in Skelmersdale- Labour Coun Melissa Parlour has a lead remit for economic regeneration and is linked to that recommendation.