The Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to discuss public protection and consumer standards, as well as the progress of the selective licensing scheme. The panel was also set to review its work programme for the upcoming year and consider future reports.

Public Protection and Consumer Standards

The panel was scheduled to consider a report on the council's Public Protection and Consumer Standards functions. This report aimed to provide an update on these services, including Trading Standards, commercial licensing, public protection, digital evidence and CCTV, and protective security. The discussion was intended to focus on how enforcement actions reduce community risks, the effectiveness of partnerships with the police and community safety teams, and how enforcement outcomes influence residents' perceptions of safety. The report also aimed to outline the performance measurements used to assess public protection outcomes and detail how complaints and reports from residents are handled.

The report highlighted that Public Protection and Consumer Standards (PP&CS) is the council's primary regulatory and enforcement function, operating across a broad range of statutory duties to prevent risk and ensure compliance. The service comprises Trading Standards, Licensing, Digital Evidence and CCTV, Prevent and Protective Security, and Business Engagement and Crime Reduction. The report detailed significant activity by Trading Standards, including the seizure of illegal vapes and tobacco, and successful prosecutions for underage sales. The Licensing team's work in administering and enforcing various licensing regimes, such as alcohol and gambling, was also outlined, alongside the 24/7 operations of the Digital Evidence and CCTV function, which has supported numerous arrests. The Business Engagement and Crime Reduction initiatives, including the Business Watch Radio Scheme, were also presented as key to tackling retail crime and improving safety.

The report identified areas for development, including strengthening the outcomes-focused performance framework to better reflect prevention and early intervention, improving data integration, and introducing mechanisms to capture feedback from residents and businesses. It also noted that the council is progressing work to develop a future operating model for PP&CS, including potential reorganisation, to better meet community needs.

Roll-Out of the Selective Licensing Scheme

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on the roll-out of the selective licensing scheme. This scheme, which applies to all privately rented properties within designated areas, aims to improve housing conditions and address issues such as low demand, anti-social behaviour, and poor housing quality. The report indicated that the Royal Borough of Greenwich currently operates three private rented property licensing schemes: Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), Additional Licensing of HMO, and Selective Licensing.

The report detailed operational challenges faced during the scheme's roll-out, including difficulties in recruiting qualified officers and initial demand exceeding projections, which led to a backlog of applications. The implementation of new property licensing software, MetaStreets, also presented challenges. By May 2025, the backlog of selective licences stood at 1500. However, following a review and process improvements, including the application of tacit consent for older licences, the team had processed and issued 1466 selective licences between August and December 2025, with a further 285 in processing.

The report also outlined enforcement activities, noting that 58 Civil Penalty Notices (CPNs) totalling £226,000 had been issued for operating without a licence. A proactive compliance program had been initiated, leading to a significant increase in licence applications. Inspections of licensed properties had identified numerous hazards, with a focus on working with landlords to rectify issues before considering formal enforcement. The report also noted year-on-year reductions in property-associated anti-social behaviour in selective licensing wards since the scheme's introduction. The interaction of selective licensing with other housing initiatives, such as HMO licensing and temporary accommodation, was also discussed.

Work Programme Discussion 2026-2027

The panel was scheduled to discuss potential items for inclusion in the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny work programme for the 2026-2027 municipal year. This discussion would involve members suggesting topics for future scrutiny.

Commissioning of Future Reports

The panel was asked to note the work items scheduled to be presented at the next meeting of the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel on 01 April 2026. These included reports on temporary accommodation and homelessness, an update on repairs, the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), and a statutory scrutiny of the Safer Greenwich Partnership. The panel was invited to consider the scope of these forthcoming reports and specify any detailed requirements.