Issue - meetings

Report No: CAB/FH/18/023

Portfolio Holder: Sara Mildmay-White, West Suffolk Lead for Housing

Lead Officer: Andrew Newman

RESOLVED:

That the Housing Standards – Civil Sanctions Policy contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/FH/18/023, which describes the new measures and sanctions which will support existing enforcement work and pro-active inspection programmes, be adopted and

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (25 April 2018)

That the new delegations regarding the enforcement powers be incorporated into the Scheme of Delegation, contained in Part 3 of the Constitution, to enable these sanctions to be enforced.

(Report No: CAB/FH/18/023)

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, West Suffolk Lead for Housing, presented this report which sought approval for a new Civil Sanctions Policy, which if adopted, would help tackle rogue landlords.

The adoption of a new Civil Sanctions Policy, attached as Appendix A to the report, would enable the West Suffolk Councils (Forest Heath District and St Edmundsbury Borough) to make use of new powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to tackle a small number of rogue landlords in the private rented sector in West Suffolk and improve the well-being of tenants.  On 9 January 2018, the Cabinet had approved the draft Policy for consultation and the outcome of this engagement exercise was contained in Section 5 of the report.

Councillor Mildmay-White drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet, including that the engagement process on the draft Policy with landlords, tenants, interested groups and other stakeholders, had largely been positive and had provided the opportunity to promote the Housing Standards service offered by the Councils and the most effective way to enforce the new legislation.  Promotion of the preventative and reactive regulatory agendas was key and better landlords involved in the process, had identified that the Councils wished to work with them, not only to achieve compliance, but to deliver a sector that provided an adequate supply of decent homes. 

The Cabinet supported its adoption (with new delegated powers to Officers for incorporation into their respective Constitutions being presented to each Council for approval).  Due to its importance, the Cabinet were also keen to ensure that this Policy was widely communicated within the District, so that people were aware that it was in operation.

It was proposed, duly seconded and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Housing Standards – Civil Sanctions Policy contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/FH/18/023, which describes the new measures and sanctions which will support existing enforcement work and pro-active inspection programmes, be adopted.

and

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (25 April 2018)

That the new delegations regarding the enforcement powers be incorporated into the Scheme of Delegation, contained in Part 3 of the Constitution, to enable these sanctions to be enforced.