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RESOLVED
 
i)             
The amended Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, as set out
in Appendix A to this report be approved and adopted; and

 
ii)            
Authority be delegated to the Head of Environmental Health and
Licensing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental
Health, Recycling and Waste to make such minor amendments to the
policy as may be required following adoption (provided that such
amendments (i) are consistent with and do not undermine the policy
and/or (ii) give effect to statutory requirements).
 
REASONS
 
i)             
The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy has been reviewed in
light of case law over the past few years and compared to other
councils’ enforcement policies.
 
ii)            
Operation Jigsaw, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities
and Local Government (‘MHCLG’) to spread information
about the upcoming Renters Rights Act and the wealth of new
enforcement duties it will introduce, is also sharing good practice
and this has prompted the changes proposed here.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED AS
IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT
 
Continuing with the existing wording. This has
been rejected on the advice of the Council’s Legal team and
Operation Jigsaw, as it leaves enforcement action more open to
challenge.