Issue - meetings

1. That an amendment to the Council’s housing enforcement and charging policy to underpin a more robust, proactive and zero tolerance approach to enforcement be approved.

2. That the adoption of a new scheme of discounts applied to licensing fees, up to a maximum of 50% cumulative discount, be approved as set out at paragraph 15.4 of the report, to encourage the active engagement of landlords with accreditation at a local, regional and national level, as part of the policy.

3. That the adoption of changes to the duration of Houses in Multiple Occupation licences to encourage landlords to apply for a Houses in Multiple Occupation licence in a timely manner be approved as set out in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the report.

4. That penalties for late submission of Houses in Multiple Occupation licence applications be approved as discussed in paragraph 17 of the report.

5. That a revised discount structure for the early payment of Civil Penalties be approved as discussed in paragraph 22 of the report.

Councillor Peter Bilson referred to the report in the Supplementary Pack and

informed the meeting that the updates were amendments to the paragraphs referenced in the recommendations. The report outlined the amended Policy that had been updated following recent changes to the law. The Policy aimed to ensure that the new powers were used to penalise the criminal landlords within the City and to incentivise and promote the work of good landlords.

Resolved:

1. That an amendment to the Council’s housing enforcement and charging policy to underpin a more robust, proactive and zero tolerance approach to enforcement be approved.

2. That the adoption of a new scheme of discounts applied to licensing fees, up to a maximum of 50% cumulative discount, be approved as set out at paragraph 15.4 of the report, to encourage the active engagement of landlords with accreditation at a local, regional and national level, as part of the policy.

3. That the adoption of changes to the duration of Houses in Multiple Occupation licences to encourage landlords to apply for a Houses in Multiple Occupation licence in a timely manner be approved as set out in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the report.

4. That penalties for late submission of Houses in Multiple Occupation licence applications be approved as discussed in paragraph 17 of the report.

5. That a revised discount structure for the early payment of Civil Penalties be approved as discussed in paragraph 22 of the report.