Agenda and minutes

Councillor Jason Zadrozny (substituting for Councillor Rachel Madden), declared a non disclosable pecuniary/other interest in relation to agenda item 4 (Selective Licensing Scheme – Consultation).  His interest arose from the fact that he currently rented out two properties that lay on the border of the Selective Licencing Scheme Phase 1 area and had recently sold a property which fell within the Selective Licencing Scheme Phase 2 area.  He had also been lobbied by the new owner of the said property in relation to the Selective Licensing Scheme consultation.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 3^rd March, 2016 be received and approved as a correct record.

The Chairman introduced the item and advised the Panel that following consultation on the Scrutiny Workplan, the first topic that had been chosen for consideration by Panel B Members was the proposed Selective Licensing Scheme. To assist with discussions, Pam Wharf, the Council’s Interim Service Director for Housing and Jacqui Harvey, the Council’s Senior Environmental Health Officer were in attendance at the meeting to offer assistance as required.

The report outlined the concept of selective licensing and its objectives for raising the standard and management of privately rented properties within a designated area.  Consultation on a proposed scheme for two designated areas within Ashfield was currently underway and views were being sought from the Panel to feedback into the process.  Selective licensing had originally been considered 18 months ago as part of a wider review on empty homes by Scrutiny Panel A and one of the recommendations to Cabinet at that point in time was for the Council to consider selective licensing as a way to drive improvements to the quality of housing within the privately rented sector.

The Interim Service Director for Housing informed the Panel that when she took up her position at Ashfield District Council during September 2015 there had already been some preparatory work undertaken in relation to a Selective Licensing Scheme for Ashfield.  Following further discussions it was agreed that the required evidence base which would form part of the submission for approval by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, would be difficult to substantiate for the whole Ashfield area.  It was more prudent therefore to choose designated areas where robust and compelling data/evidence could be presented.

The two sites chosen were as follows:-

Phase 1 – Stanton Hill, Sutton in Ashfield

High Street (partial), NG17 3FY / NG17 3GG

Brand Lane (partial), NG17 3FZ / NG17 3GH

Morley Street, NG17 3HA

Co-Operative Street, NG17 3HB

Institute Street, NG17 3HD

Cross Row, NG17 3HE

Phase 2 – Sutton Central, Sutton in Ashfield

Outram Street (partial), NG17 4AB / NG17 4AN / NG17 4AP / NG17 4AX /

NG17 4BA / NG17 4BG / NG17 4FS / NG17 4FT / NG17 4FU / NG17 4FW

Park Street, NG17 4BB

North Street, NG17 4BD

Russell Street, NG17 4BE

Morley Street, NG17 4ED / NG17 4EE

Downing Street, NG17 4EF

Beighton Street, NG17 4EG / NG17 4FU

Chatsworth Street, NG17 4FR / NG17 4GE / NG17 4GG

Lime Street, NG17 4GA / NG17 4GB

Short Street (partial), NG17 4GD

Walton Street, NG17 4GF

Stoney Street, NG17 4GH

St Michaels Street, NG17 4GJ / NG17 4GN / NG17 4GP

East Street (partial), NG17 4GQ

Tenter Close, NG17 4GS.

Having taken advice from other local authorities it was agreed that the data would focus on crime and anti-social behaviour within the allocated areas and the resulting evidence gathered was compelling.  Ashfield District Council were currently instigating legal action on approximately eight out of ten housing enforcement cases which was far above the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.