Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Inquiry Meeting held on 28^th November, 2013, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Panel held on 28^th November, 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive relating to the Council’s Article 4 and Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (HMO SPD).

Janet Hawkins gave an overview of the HMO licensing schemes in the City.  She indicated that the purposes of the schemes were to improve the quality of the HMOs for the occupiers and also to improve matters for the local communities.

The team had a good working relationship with Legal Services and Planning.

The scheme details had been presented and discussed at the Landlord Consultative Forum.  And they were in the process of organising a Stakeholders Forum.

The scheme only covered part of the City and they would be looking at possibly increasing this in the future.

Chris Lyons outlined the HMO SPD.  He stated that it was only a guidance document.  He gave details of specific points with regards to the spread of HMOs, demand and limits within area and how the radius works.

He stated that if it was decided that the SPD needed to be changed it was important that it was clear on what was acceptable for future purchasers, planners and local residents.

Previously decisions have referred to the character of the area, however, currently the HMO SPD does not cover this.

It was noted that there was no income generated from HMO applications.

Questions were asked why there were currently tow tiers for the percentage of HMOs in different areas.  Discussion also took place concerning recent applications that the Planning Committee members have decided to reject and therefore go against the officer recommendation for approval, in line with the SPD.

Various stakeholders were in attendance and presented their main points relating to HMOs.

Highfield Residents’ Association (HRA).  Information was attached to the papers at Appendix 3 and further information was circulated at the meeting together with a response from the East Bassett Residents’ Assocation:-

• Need for residents to have a commitment to the City.
• Please that there was an intention to take enforcement action against those landlords that do not licence their HMOs.
• Need to consider the quality of life for existing residents.
• If the 10% threshold had been reached then no new ones should be created.
• If more HMOs were to be allowed Southampton would become a transient city.
• More purpose built accommodation for students however there were still high levels of students living in HMOs.
• Felt that temporary stop orders could be used.
• Hoping that as staffing levels had been addressed that the backlog of enforcement could be resolved.

Following on from the points raised by the HRA the following comments were made:-

• The Residents Action Group in Polygon stated that 10% and 20% levels were very low.  They live in an area with almost 100% and this causes many problems.
• Many cases were resolved without the need to issue enforcement notices.
• Each of the 3 officers deals with approximately 40-50 cases.
• Need figures showing numbers of HMOs per ward.
• Need to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.