Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation, the Homes Policy Development Group has recommended that the revised Private Sector fees and charges be approved.

Arising from a * report of the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation, the Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that  that the revised Private Sector fees and charges be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that the Private Sector Housing Team carried out duties to ensure that private accommodation met minimum standards in particular there were regulations for licensing, management and use of house in multiple occupation, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and hazards within the home.  The report outlined the need to revise the fees and charges for these statutory and discretionary services.

RESOLVED that the recommendations from the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires)

Notes:

i)   Cllr C J Eginton declared a personal interest as he was a private landlord;

ii) * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Public Health & Professional Services Manager providing Members with the revised fees and charges for statutory and discretionary functions within the Private Sector Housing team.

The Group had before it a report * from the Public Health & Professional Services Manager providing Members with the revised fees and charges for statutory and discretionary functions within the Private Sector Housing team. The Private Sector Housing team carried out duties to ensure that private accommodation met minimum standards. In particular there were regulations for the licensing, management and use of houses in multiple occupation (HMO), carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and hazards within the home.

The contents of the report were summarised and discussion took place with regard to the following:

·         The range of enforcement options available.

·         The Council was not looking to make a profit but to recover costs.

·         New requirements as a result of new legislation.

·         The benchmarking that had taken place with other Devon authorities.

·         The rationale behind the proposed fees as a calculation of officer time.

·         The seriousness of carbon monoxide poisoning and the Fixed Penalty Notices in relation to this.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the Private Sector revised fees and charges be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr D R Coren and seconded by Cllr Mrs G Doe)

Note: *Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.