Decision details

This item was chaired by Councillor Mike Todd-Jones

 

Matter for Decision

An independent feasibility study was conducted into the need for selective licensing of private rented properties within Cambridge City. The study was for the purpose of identifying if it was appropriate for the Council to implement a scheme.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.          Agreed that the Feasibility Study Report, contained in Appendix A of the Officer’s report could be released into the public domain.

     ii.          Agreed the actions outlined within the Committee Report to address recommendations of the Feasibility Study Report throughout 2021/22, continuing the Council’s focus of improving and sustaining the quality of the private rented sector within the City.

   iii.          Agreed that an annual report be brought back assessing progress on the work in time for any new bids to be submitted for work in the budget for the following year.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Residential Team Manager, Environmental Services.

 

The Executive Councillor said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          The report raised several possibilities where the council could take action against private sector landlords where they did not respond to issues raised by tenants.

     ii.          The report had a wider scope than just housing (acknowledged there was a high demand for this). The report looked at socio-economic issues (eg crime) and how actions could be taken to address these.

 

The Residential Team Manager said that work was underway to set up an enforcement group to share intelligence across regulatory services within the council as well as with external stakeholders including the Fire Service.

 

Councillor Robertson requested a change to the recommendation in the Officer’s report:

Add third recommendation: 2.3 Agree that an annual report be brought back assessing progress on the work in time for any new bids be submitted for work in the budget for the following year.”

 

The Committee unanimously approved this additional recommendation.

 

The Chair decided that the recommendations highlighted in the Officer’s report should be voted on and recorded separately:

 

The Committee unanimously endorsed recommendation 2.1.

 

The Committee endorsed recommendation 2.2 by 5 votes to 0 with 3 abstentions.

 

The Committee approved (new) recommendation 2.3 unanimously.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations as amended.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.