Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services, the Homes Policy Development Group has made the following recommendations:

a)    The revised fees and charges as set out in Annex 1 be approved.

b)   That Public Health and Regulatory Services are authorised to enforce The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 as amended 2016.

c)    That a charge is made for providing copies of the Mandatory HMO Licensing Public Register when requested.

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services, the Homes Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a)    The revised fees and charges as set out in Annex 1 be approved.

b)   That Public Health and Regulatory Services be authorised to enforce The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 as amended 2016.

c)    That a charge is made for providing copies of the Mandatory HMO Licensing Public Register when requested.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that Private Sector Housing had a duty 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 and smoke alarms, and hazards within the home. All enforcement activities and relevant fees and charges within the report were set out in compliance with the legislation and the Public Health Services Enforcement Policy adopted in August 2016 and the draft Operations Directorate Enforcement Policy 2019. He explained the changes to the fees and charges outlined in annex 1 of the report and the penalties for Housing Act offences.

Consideration was given to how offences would be enforced.

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

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services providing Members with the revised fees and charges in addition to an enforcement update for the relevant statutory and discretionary Private Sector Housing functions within the Community Team of Public Health and Regulatory Services.

The Group had before it a report * from the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services providing Members with the revised fees and charges in addition to an enforcement update for the relevant statutory and discretionary Private Sector Housing functions within the Community Team of Public Health and Regulatory Services.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         The rationale for coming to a revised cost in each area was provided by the Group Manager.

·         Legislation provided the Council the power to recover all reasonable costs associated with the administration of the Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing function. The officer time and resources involved in processing a new application had been reviewed and a revised fee calculated. It was proposed to charge a nominal administration fee for providing the register in electronic form or hardcopy.

·         Proposed changes relating to the charging for enforcement action were described, for example, Prohibition Orders and Demolition Orders would now be charged for up front.

A brief discussion took place regarding the proposed increase in charges in the enforcement action area. It was noted that the increase proposed was 30% up on the previous year. It was explained that the previous year had been the first year these charges had been introduced and at the time a guess had had to be made as to what the level of costs were likely to be. It had since been discovered that the council had been undercharging and the proposed increase was merely a means of recouping the actual costs incurred.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

a)    The revised fees and charges as set out in Annex 1 be approved.

b)   That Public Health and Regulatory Services are authorised to enforce The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 as amended 2016.

c)    That a charge is made for providing copies of the Mandatory HMO Licensing Public Register when requested.

(Proposed by Cllr P J Heal and seconded by Cllr Mrs G Doe)

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