Issue - meetings

Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Housing Enforcement Policy provided as Annex 1 to the report be approved.

2.    That additions to the Officer Scheme of Delegation contained within the Council’s Constitution be approved, as set out in Annex 2 to the report in relation to Section 5 (Housing and other Residential Accommodation).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Brunt, introduced the report. The Housing Enforcement Policy, which covered the options available for enforcement of housing standards primarily in the private rented sector, but also in the owner occupied and socially rented sectors, was approved by the Executive in 2018.

The report recommended a policy change to introduce charges for the service of specified formal enforcement notices. The policy had also been updated to include new powers to be used when regulating mobile home sites and electrical safety standards in the private rented sector.

Councillor Brunt explained that the report recommended an addition to the Scheme of Delegation to enable the provisions relating to electrical safety standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 to be utilised effectively.

In response to a question from an Executive Member, the Environmental Health Manager confirmed that in respect of circumstances where no enforcement action was possible or it was determined that no action should be taken, advice for customers would typically involve signposting possible routes to resolution.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Housing Enforcement Policy provided as Annex 1 to the report be approved.

2.    That additions to the Officer Scheme of Delegation contained within the Council’s Constitution be approved, as set out in Annex 2 to the report in relation to Section 5 (Housing and other Residential Accommodation).