Issue - meetings

This report summarises the current position in the four districts with regard to Private Sector Housing Enforcement, related housing fees and charges and Housing Grants Policy matters, and the options for harmonising these arrangements looking forward to vesting day and beyond. This report has previously been to CIG on 11th December 2019 and takes note of comments made.

RESOLVED: 

(i)              A single Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy is agreed by the Shadow Executive for the new Authority to be adopted for vesting day (in addition to the proposed overarching Regulatory Enforcement Policy) (see Appendix A)

(ii)            HMO licence fees and housing enforcement charges are agreed by the Shadow Executive for the new Authority to be harmonised for vesting day adopting the model currently used by Wycombe District Council (see Appendix B)

(iii)           A single Housing Improvement and Adaptations Policy is agreed by the Shadow Executive for the new Authority to be adopted for vesting day (see Appendix C)

(iv)           A decision is made and agreed by the Shadow Executive for the new Authority to remove the separate grant offerings currently provided by Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council for measures funded by them separately and outside of the proposed harmonised Housing Improvement and Adaptations Policy (see Appendix D).

Cllr I Darby and Ms A Starsmore, Private Sector Housing Team Leader introduced the item and highlighted that the aim of the paper was to streamline housing enforcement, improvement and adaptation policies from District Councils.  It was essential that all items were in place by vesting day. 

The private sector was currently a larger housing association than the public sector, which emphasised the importance of implementing consistent enforcement to ensure the protection of vulnerable people in that environment.   A significant exercise had been carried out in Wycombe to calculate the fees as set out in the report.  The following points were highlighted in response to questions raised by members:

• The policy had been designed with Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care services in mind.
• Grants were offered to carry out necessary adaptations to properties to aid a timely discharge from hospital. 
• Grants would be provided to fund adaptations as a preventative measure to avoid hospitalisation.  There would be a benefit of moving into a unitary authority through closer working between professionals. 

RESOLVED:  Shadow Executive AGREED:

1. A single Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy for the new Authority to be adopted for vesting day (in addition to the proposed overarching Regulatory Enforcement Policy) (see Appendix A)
2. HMO licence fees and housing enforcement charges for the new Authority to be harmonised for vesting day adopting the model currently used by Wycombe District Council (see Appendix B)
3. A single Housing Improvement and Adaptations Policy for the new Authority to be adopted for vesting day (see Appendix C)
4. A decision for the new Authority to remove the separate grant offerings currently provided by Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council for measures funded by them separately and outside of the proposed harmonised Housing Improvement and Adaptations Policy (see Appendix D).