The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 11 June 2024 to discuss private sector housing property licensing and an overview of the Place Directorate's work programme. Key decisions included the unanimous agreement to explore options for incentivising landlords to house those on the housing register and to explore further licensing cost reductions for charitable housing providers.

Private Sector Housing Property Licensing Consultation and Next Steps

The committee received a report detailing the consultation and next steps for private sector housing property licensing. David Beach, Director of Regulatory and Contingency Planning Services, introduced the report, which outlined proposals for new additional HMO and selective property licensing schemes. The consultation revealed that while residents and private tenants largely supported the reintroduction of these schemes, landlords expressed opposition, particularly regarding fees and administrative requirements.

A key recommendation agreed by the committee was for officers to consider a comprehensive communications strategy to inform tenants about the scheme, including sending hard copy letters, information in council tax bills, and online materials in various languages. The committee also recommended that officers explore different options to incentivise landlords to house those on the housing register and to investigate the possibility of further licensing cost reductions for charitable housing providers, such as almshouses, and extending these reductions beyond the current offer.

Officers were tasked with providing a more detailed breakdown of existing and future costs of the scheme to the committee and clarifying the languages in which the consultation was available.

Overview of the Place Directorate and Work Programme to Take Forward Inclusive Growth

Ian Rae, Director of Regeneration, Planning & Delivery, introduced a report providing an overview of the Place Directorate's responsibilities and work programme for inclusive growth. Councillor Keith Rayner proposed, and Councillor John Moss seconded, a recommendation that the committee receive a regular monitoring report on aspects of the Capital Programme, including capital growth, costs, and investment. This recommendation was unanimously agreed. The committee noted the significant investment in the Capital Delivery Programme and received assurances regarding the sufficiency of resources and team restructuring to manage it.

The Scrutiny Report

Emily Wood, Scrutiny Officer, introduced a report on the Scrutiny Report, which included updates on the Housing and Growth Scrutiny Committee action trackers. The committee requested clarification on several actions, including ethnicity breakdowns, details of progress on specific initiatives, and confirmation of timelines for complex system implementations. Officers committed to providing this information outside of the meeting. The committee also suggested additions to the Forward Plan, including a progress report on the Mears Joint Venture, updates on the paused Sixty Bricks development, and reports on housing and economy performance, the Housing Revenue Account, the Capital Programme, the Housing Transformation Programme, and the Private Rented Sector. The committee highlighted the relevance of equality, the environment, and income to their remit, suggesting these aspects be considered, though not in excessive depth as they fall under other scrutiny committees. The committee noted the report.