Agenda item - Brighton Lions Lease

(copy attached)

41.1      The Panel considered a report that requested comments on the proposal to sell the freehold of Lions Court to Brighton Lions on the condition the council received an agreed percentage of nominations and that the capital receipt be used to subsidise the council’s capital housing and regeneration programmes.

41.2      Patrick McKenna stated that he supported the sale in principle and asked if there had been any complaints made about Brighton Lions as a landlord.

41.3      The Housing Stock Review Manager stated that he was not aware of any complaints but would check adding that a covenant would be added to any sale to ensure the properties would remain as social housing.

41.4      Grant Scott asked if any capital receipt would be ring-fenced for development.

41.5      The Housing Stock Review Manager clarified that the advice he had received from the council’s finance department was the capital receipt could be ring-fenced to housing for capital expenditure.

41.6      Chris El-Shabba asked if the properties would have to be maintained to Decent Homes standard.

41.7      The Housing Stock Review Manager stated that whilst he did not have written confirmation of this, he had conducted a visual inspection and had been impressed by the quality of the premises. Brighton Lions were also a regulated organisation.

41.8      RESOLVED- That representatives support the recommendations as detailed in the report.