Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy proposing a policy that sets out the guiding principles of the regulatory framework for the private sector housing service and the delivery of its statutory functions.

RESOLVED that:

(1)        the adoption of the Regulating Housing Standards Policy, supporting appendices and statements of principles is agreed;

(2)        the revision and minor amendments to the Gloucestershire Civil Penalties Policy 2018 through the adoption of the Gloucester City Council Civil Penalties Policy (Appendix 3 to the Regulating Housing Standards Policy) is agreed;

(3)        it is agreed that the removal of discretionary ‘Early Payment’ deductions for Civil and Financial Penalties, recipients of financial penalties are already legally afforded a 2-stage process to review and appeal the amount of the penalty;

(4)        delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director to approve decisions to introduce new Statements of Principles to supplement the Regulating Standards Policy;

(5)        delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director to approve decisions to review and amend the existing Statements of Principles supplementing the Regulating Standards Policy.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that proposed a policy to set out the guiding principles of the regulatory framework for the private sector housing service and the delivery of its statutory functions.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy reassured Members that the proposed policy promotes engagement and education before enforcement action is undertaken as a last resort.  She confirmed that the Council’s objective was to work with landlords to ensure that all housing in the City meets the required standards and not to penalise the good ones.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy apprised Members that the Private Sector Housing Team have improved 695 homes across the City since quarter one of 2022 giving great benefit to the health and wellbeing of their inhabitants.  She stated that the proposed policy would enable them to continue this work to the benefit of residents.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy took the opportunity to urge any tenants concerned about their home, or risk of eviction, to contact the Council and officers would do all they could to assist them.

RESOLVED that:

(1)        the adoption of the Regulating Housing Standards Policy, supporting appendices and statements of principles is agreed;

(2)        the revision and minor amendments to the Gloucestershire Civil Penalties Policy 2018 through the adoption of the Gloucester City Council Civil Penalties Policy (Appendix 3 to the Regulating Housing Standards Policy) is agreed;

(3)        it is agreed that the removal of discretionary ‘Early Payment’ deductions for Civil and Financial Penalties, recipients of financial penalties are already legally afforded a 2-stage process to review and appeal the amount of the penalty;

(4)        delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director to approve decisions to introduce new Statements of Principles to supplement the Regulating Standards Policy;

(5)        delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director to approve decisions to review and amend the existing Statements of Principles supplementing the Regulating Standards Policy.