DECISION

1.    To agree, considering the options available, to introduced a Selective Licensing scheme within Weavers, Whitechapel and Spitalfields and Banglatown areas (pre May 22^nd 2014 ward boundaries)

2.    To confirm that the proposed designation criteria for introducing Selective Licensing, as outlined in this report have been met.

3.    To agree to delegate to the Corporate Director of Communities Localities and Culture to setting the commencement date and issuing of the required statutory notifications in relation to the notification of the Selective Licensing scheme designation.

4.    To agree the fee structure, licence conditions, and Housing Standards which it is proposed are adopted as part of scheme.

5.    To agree to delegate to the Director of Communities Localities and Culture, authority to bring in the lower fee for all applications to enable the scheme to be introduced sooner depending on the duration of the ICT development and introduction.

6.    To agree that no further exemptions to the scheme should be considered in addition to the statutory exemptions.

7.    To agree that additional licensing should be considered further, subject to approval with the Mayor and Lead Members, once the extent of the Governments consultation of extending the definition of a licensable House in Multiple Occupation is known and that a cross-party letter be prepared as a submission to the Government expressing Members support for additional licensing powers for Local Authorities.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (S. HALSEY)

(Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards (D. Tolley)

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Performance, introduced the report. He highlighted that the goal was to encourage better tenancies for local residents. There were a number of different license types involved and further work was required.

During discussion a number of issues were noted including:

·         That Government regulations set out that the licensing scheme could not cover the whole Borough. Members looked at why the particular areas of the Borough had been chosen.

·         The fees structure was set out and must be cost neutral.

·         The government were consulting on how to tackle houses in multiple occupancy (HMO) and the Council would monitor the outcomes of that consultation.

·         Details of the communication strategy.

·         That private rented accommodation was welcome but that it was important it was well managed.

Councillor Peter Golds, Leader of the Conservative Group, addressed the meeting. He highlighted concerns about the speed with which buildings were being converted into HMOs and stressed that the Council should be looking to use its existing powers to tackle this issue. The Mayor agreed to explore creating a cross-party letter to the government consultation setting out the Borough’s position in relation to additional licensing.

The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in the report subject to an amendment to Recommendation 7 to propose the cross-party letter to the government consultation.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree, considering the options available, to introduced a Selective Licensing scheme within Weavers, Whitechapel and Spitalfields and Banglatown areas (pre May 22^nd 2014 ward boundaries)

2.    To confirm that the proposed designation criteria for introducing Selective Licensing, as outlined in this report have been met.

3.    To agree to delegate to the Corporate Director of Communities Localities and Culture to setting the commencement date and issuing of the required statutory notifications in relation to the notification of the Selective Licensing scheme designation.

4.    To agree the fee structure, licence conditions, and Housing Standards which it is proposed are adopted as part of scheme.

5.    To agree to delegate to the Director of Communities Localities and Culture, authority to bring in the lower fee for all applications to enable the scheme to be introduced sooner depending on the duration of the ICT development and introduction.

6.    To agree that no further exemptions to the scheme should be considered in addition to the statutory exemptions.

7.    To agree that additional licensing should be considered further, subject to approval with the Mayor and Lead Members, once the extent of the Governments consultation of extending the definition of a licensable House in Multiple Occupation is known and that a cross-party letter be prepared as a submission to the Government expressing Members support for additional licensing powers for Local Authorities.