Thank you to all those who were able to attend the Cabinet Meeting on Thursday 26th May. We should not underestimate the power, or influence, that we have and the number of you who were able to attend is a symbol of that.
The intention of this update is to summarise the recommendations approved by the Cabinet for the next stage of the Feasibility Study.
- Cabinet agreed that further more detailed work needs to be done to test how the following options would deliver on the Council’s estate regeneration objectives and meet the Council’s commitments to the Estate’s residents:
- To continue with the current maintenance strategy for the Silchester Estate
- To improve the Silchester Estate through refurbishments and in-fill development
- To pursue one of the viable options for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Silchester Estate
- The Cabinet agreed a budget to progress the next stage of work which will test the above options and then report back to the Cabinet with a preferred option. In addition, the Cabinet agreed a sum from the General Fund is requested to facilitate leaseholder (and freeholder) buy backs.
- The Cabinet agreed that in addition to the Council’s stated commitments for all estate regeneration across the borough, a full redevelopment can only be chosen as the preferred option if all resident leaseholders and freeholders will be offered the opportunity to buy a new property on the redevelopment through a Shared Equity offer. This would enable the community to stay together.
- The Cabinet agrees that if any leaseholders (or freeholders) in properties originally purchased through the Right to Buy wish to sell their property now but have concerns regarding their ability to sell on the open market as a result of the underlying possibility of regeneration, then the Council will offer to acquire that property at full market value.
- The Cabinet agreed that any void properties in Council owned properties would be re-let to those who have approached the Council as Homeless and require temporary accommodation
Derek White (Full Text of Derek’s Speech: Here) and Nahid Ashby (Full Text of Nahid’s Speech: Here) spoke for the Residents’ Association and our specific demands were;
- A commitment to genuine transparency, honesty and a positive working relationship, and specifically at this stage we want to be given access to the Viability Assessments that have led to the current Options 1 -6.
- We expect to be fully involved in all decisions as key stakeholders and significant partners and;
- to have an active part in the choice of all key players
- to be presented with a properly costed, well-thought out range of options on which the community can be balloted before any regeneration takes place
- We expect to be involved in “high level” decisions such as layout and type of construction and not just in small scale decisions.
- We are glad that the Council has committed to supporting us in our appointment of an Independent Tenant and Leaseholders Advisor and we expect to have access to other advisors as appropriate and necessary.
- A commitment to genuine engagement throughout, up to and including construction and beyond, into maintaining the entirety of our community including residents of other housing providers, tenants of non-resident leaseholders, and the valued community resources such as ADKC, Latymer Community Church and the sports facilities of Westway Trust.
Check out the Facebook Page: We love Silchester for photos and comments from residents at the event.
Find out more about the Meeting, the Report and Recommendations here: 26th May Cabinet