Issue - meetings

B Report of the Chief Executive (Copy herewith)

1.    Cabinet approved the Business Case for using the income received from civil penalties to fund the expansion of the Housing Enforcement Team (attached to this report as Appendix A);

2.    Cabinet approved the expansion of the Housing Enforcement Team to include an additional 8 Officers (a Housing Enforcement Manager, a Tenancy Relations Officer, 4 Environmental Health Officers and 2 Intelligence Officers) as described in Option 2 of the report

3.    Cabinet delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Housing & Wellbeing, the authority to expand the Housing Enforcement Team by an additional 5 Officers (4 Environmental Health Officers and an Intelligence Officer), described in Option 4 of the report, subject to due diligence and the production of an updated Business Case.

Councillor Ashraf addressed Cabinet and commented that the Labour Group supported the recommendations and recognised the problems of rogue landlords and that there was a real need to have an enforceable policy.

Councillor Hibbert, as the relevant Cabinet Member, elaborated on the report and explained that the approval of the use of Civil Penalties would increase the control that the Council had in tackling issues surrounding rogue and irresponsible landlords. He noted that the proposal had been properly costed which was evidenced in the Business Case. It was reported that if option 2 was approved the first phase would see the inclusion of 8 additional officers to the Housing Enforcement Team.

The Leader commented that it was a fantastic piece of work and that he fully supported the work that had been undertaken that would continue to benefit residents in the private rented sector.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Business Case for using the income received from civil penalties to fund the expansion of the Housing Enforcement Team (attached to this report as Appendix A) be approved;

2.    That the expansion of the Housing Enforcement Team to include an additional 8 Officers (a Housing Enforcement Manager, a Tenancy Relations Officer, 4 Environmental Health Officers and 2 Intelligence Officers) as described in Option 2 of the report be approved

3.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Housing & Wellbeing, to expand the Housing Enforcement Team by an additional 5 Officers (4 Environmental Health Officers and an Intelligence Officer), described in Option 4 of the report, subject to due diligence and the production of an updated Business Case.