Agenda item

Question from Albert McKeran and Ranjit Krishnamma of the Islington Park Street Community to Councillor Murray, Executive Member for Housing and Development:

Will Islington Council recognise 38-44 Islington Park Street as an established sui generis shared home, which has been in continuous occupation as such since 1976 and confirm to the freeholder that they will require a change of use permission to turn our home into self-contained dwellings or similar and ask the freeholder to suspend all possession proceedings and will Islington Council do this before the Notice to Quit expires on Sunday 5 July?

Reply:

Thank you for your question.  We feel very strongly that we should do what we can to fight One Housing about this. We need to work out every angle and use what powers we have and one of these is Planning.  We don’t have an application in at the moment, but if a developer were to come forward in the future they would have to apply for planning permission.  Councillors Picknell, Poole and Turan are on the case and if One Housing think they can sell off and convert it to private housing they should think again.

Question from Councillor Poole to Councillor Murray, Executive Member for Housing and Development:

Will Councillor Murray commit to doing everything possible to prevent the eviction of the tenants of One Housing Group who live at 38-44 Islington Park Street?

Councillor Poole advised that he will waive the answer and await Councillor Murray’s response to the urgent Motion.

Petition:  A petition was presented by Councillor Caroline Russell on behalf of the residents of 38-44 Islington Park Street.  

Urgent Motion: Islington Park Street Community

Councillor Poole proposed the Motion, seconded by Councillor Picknell.  Councillor Russell moved an amendment.  Councillors O’Sullivan and Murray contributed to the debate. 

Councillor Murray advised that sui generis status is granted by the Planning Committee and although it looks like it may apply, it is a decision that the Planning Committee would have to make and we cannot pre-determine their decision.  Councillor Murray also advised that DM Policy 3.9 allows us to resist the loss of good quality Houses of Multiple Occupation and he hopes that the Planning Committee will also take that into consideration should a planning application be received.  Councillor Murray advised that it was vital the council supported the motion to send a clear message to One Housing and make sure a unique way of life is preserved.

The recommendations in the amended motion were put to the vote and LOST.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

·         To call on One Housing Group to immediately suspend their Notices to Quit.

·         To ask the One Housing Group to engage in dialogue with the Council about their intentions with regard to 38-44 Islington Park Street.

·         To encourage One Housing Group to work with residents to formalise the tenancy agreements, management arrangements, and allocations policy at 38-44 Islington Park Street, so that this unique community can continue their way of life.