Issue - meetings

To gain formal endorsement for and explain the Council's role in the MHCLG High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) Early Adopters Programme for Stapleford Town Centre.

Cabinet was informed that High Street Retail Auctions were a new permissive power for Local Authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants such as local businesses or community groups. Local Authorities would be able to take action to fill long-term vacant properties by auctioning lease rights of up to five-years.

The process had some new resources and had been designed to have several intercept points where landlords of such premises and councils could work together to find common ground rather than being a rigorous enforcement regime for non-compliance.

As it is still an unproven process, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government had invited a number of authorities to be pathfinders.

RESOLVED that Broxtowe Borough Council formally approve participation in the above Early Adopters Programme to support the work of the Stapleford Town Deal Board.

Reason

This would enable the Council to take part in the ‘Early Adopter’ programme.