Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

The purpose of the report is to present the proposals for Private Sector Housing (PSH) fee adjustments for chargeable services to ensure fees achieve full cost recovery.

Recommendations

1.    That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness approves the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the city council's mandatory HMO licensing fees as outlined in Appendix 1, to commence from 1April 2023.

2.    That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homeless ness approves the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the city council's Private Sector Housing Enforcement fees in Appendix 2, to commence from 1 April 2023.

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Approved the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the city council's mandatory HMO licensing fees as outlined in Appendix 1, to commence from 1 April 2023;

2.    Approved the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the city council's Private Sector Housing Enforcement fees in Appendix 2, to commence from 1 April 2023.

Clare Hardwick, Head of Private Sector Housing, introduced the report.

The purpose of the report was to present the proposals for Private Sector Housing (PSH) fee adjustments for chargeable services to ensure fees achieve full cost recovery.

During the item, a local primary school entered the viewing gallery at 10:56 for a short period of time.

Resident Consortium Questions

There were no questions.

Members' Questions

In response to members' questions, officers clarified:

·         The enforcement fees outlined in the report did not just apply to HMO license holders but apply to any enforcement that the team took.  The team had an approach of escalation for enforcement, so for a repeat offender the charges outlined are only for the recovery of the activity that led the officer to taking the enforcement action.  There were also other penalties and punitive actions that could be used such as prosecuting a landlord for a repeat offence or issuing a civil penalty notice which can go up to £30,000 per offence.  The fees in the report were a minor part of the overall enforcement powers available.

Councillor Comments

Councillor Madgwick noted the Integrated Impact Assessment needed to be updated with the correct officer contacts.

Councillor Wemyss requested the officer forward to him the information on rent repayment orders for HMOs.

The Chair's summing up

Councillor Sanders thanked officers for the report.  He noted the extension of the additional licensing scheme since the current Cabinet had been in post.  Councillor Sanders noted his acceptance of the two recommendations.

Decision

The Cabinet Member:

·         Approved the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the

City Council's Mandatory HMO licensing fees as outline in Appendix 1, to commence from 1 April 2023.

·         Approved the proposals for PSH fee adjustments for the City Council's Private Sector Housing Enforcement fees in Appendix 2 to commence form 1 April 2023.