Issue - meetings

To consider the head of housing and environment’s report. 

The purpose of the report is to seek approval from Cabinet to adopt the Housing Enforcement Policy.

Recommendations:

(a)      Approve the adoption of the Housing Enforcement Policy.

(b)      Subject to approval of the policy, to delegate authority to the Head of Housing and Environment to make minor amendments to the policy in the future.

Cabinet received the Housing Enforcement Policy report from the head of housing and environment. The report sought Cabinet approval for the adoption of the Housing Enforcement Policy.

Councillors Pieter-Paul Barker, Sue Cooper, and Anne-Marie Simpson each declared interests in this item and did not participate in the discussion, debate, or vote.

The Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, and statutory Deputy Leader, Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers, presented the report and highlighted that the policy was not related to planning but rather insuring that private rented properties were up to a sufficient standard.

The policy would help the council enforce acceptable housing standards and provide clarity to landlords, tenants, and agents as to what their rights where. Councillor Filipova-Rivers noted the council now had leverage to ensure that rented properties were maintained to good standard.

Cabinet discussed the policy and requested the officers clarify the council’s responsibility to renters to ensure they knew what powers the council had in the area of enforcement.

As the policy would ensure renting standards were maintained and would provide clarity as to the rights for landlords, tenants, and agents, Cabinet were content with the policy and agreed that it should be approved.

RESOLVED to:

(a)  approve the adoption of the Housing Enforcement Policy; and

(b)  authorise the head of housing and environment to make minor amendments to the policy in the future.