Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader of the Council detailing the business undertaken across the Council since 16th November 2016.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions.

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1. 

1.  “To Let” Boards

Question from Councillor Claisse to Councillor Shields

The Cabinet Member recently introduced a number of measures to reduce the number of ‘To Let’ boards used by landlords to advertise their properties.  These have been proved to be ineffective.  What further action will the Cabinet member take to resolve this problem?

Answer

The law allows Letting Boards to be used legitimately. However there are occasions when they remain after the time when they should be removed. In such cases the enforcement of Letting Boards is undertaken using planning legislation. The HMO Licensing team are assisting with the enforcement of the planning law around letting boards with some success.

To check the status of each letting board requires the Council to contact the letting agency and confirm whether the property is being marketed, and the date that it has been let. Only then can formal action be taken against unauthorised boards. The Council is at liberty to write to all letting agents within the city to remind them of the regulations and that there may be spot checks done on properties that we have reason to believe may have unauthorised letting boards. The Planning Enforcement team does not currently have the resources to undertake a targeted campaign against letting boards. With current resources in the Licensing and Planning teams it is not possible to undertake high-profile, proactive campaigns to address the issue of Letting Boards in particular areas. However, if members are aware of specific properties where residents are aware that Letting Boards are breaching planning legislation then we can investigate these.

Furthermore the Licensing and Planning teams have looked at whether an article 7 direction could be pursued to enable further control over Letting Boards, as has been done by some other councils such as in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Brighton & Hove. Again, to introduce this would require significant resources in place to scope, implement and enforce the direction 

2.  Disabled Adaptations Budget

Question from Councillor Laurentto Councillor Payne

I note that the Disabled Adaptations Budget is to be increased to meet the needs of ageing residents.  Will it now be Council Policy to update and install disabled exit and access to the older blocks of flats and can a rolling programme be put in place?

Answer

The disabled adaptations budget is designed to enable adaptations to individual properties to meet the needs of the resident.

The council owns and manages a large number of low rise ‘walk up’ blocks which were not originally constructed with lifts. In order to provide full disabled access to these blocks, lifts would be required. Budget constraints mean that a rolling programme cannot currently be implemented but we are looking in detail at ways that we might be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76