Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

(A non-public appendix will follow.)

The Committee received a report informing Members that the Open Spaces Department required employees in certain roles to reside in

residential accommodation on site for the better performance of their duties and to

provide an out-of-hours callout service. West Ham Park had 10 such properties.

Members were informed that due to historic reasons, not all lodges were allocated in accordance with the best fit for the service and it was desirable to rectify this situation for the future. The simplest way to achieve this was through natural turnover, as staff retired or left the organisation. The allocation model identified that only 8 lodges were required to fulfil a fair but fit-for purpose callout rota.

In response to a query, Members noted that by relocating some staff, it was possible to free up 2 neighbouring lodges that are self-contained, in that they can be easily separated from the Park and nursery complex, and have direct access to the main road.

Discussions ensued regarding the Right to Buy scheme and Officers informed Members that the City Corporation could robustly challenge any attempt from tenants to purchase the property. Members were informed that the gardens of each property were listed under a separate short term lease agreement which could help mitigate the risk of any Right to Buy threats.

Resolved – That the following be agreed:

· the revised model for lodge residency, recognising that this will be

implemented over time through natural turnover of staff;

· that 240 and 242 Upton Lane, identified as surplus to service need, be

let to the open market as residential accommodation on the best terms that

can reasonably be obtained;

· delegate authority to the Director of Open Spaces, Comptroller & City

Solicitor and the City Surveyor to undertake the necessary works to render

the properties suitable for letting, to agree appropriate terms and

management arrangements, and to complete the necessary documentation;

· that officers report back to a future meeting of this Committee to advise

Members of the letting arrangements agreed under Recommendation 3

above.