Issue - meetings

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.          Review all options proposed in section 5 of the report and approve Option 3, which is to proceed to approve Selective Licensing declarations, including the establishment of a stakeholder steering group (based on the criteria set out  ...  view the full agenda text for item 62

Consideration was given to the report which asked Cabinet to determine whether or not to introduce further Selective Licensing declarations following the conclusion of the previous Scheme in April 2025. It was proposed that the revised Fee and Licence Conditions for the following areas be approved: Town Centre/Eastwood/ East Dene/  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations

That Cabinet

1.    Review all options proposed in section 3 of this report and approve Option 3, which is to proceed to approve Selective Licensing declarations, including the establishment of a stakeholder steering group (based on the criteria set out within this report and appendices);

2.    Approve the revised Licence Fee and the Licence Conditions, in all of the proposed areas which are:

a)  Town centre / Eastwood / East Dene / Clifton / Boston Castle

b)  Masbrough / Kimberworth

c)  Thurcroft

d)  Dinnington

e)  Brinsworth

f)    Parkgate

Councillor Tinsley declared that he had previously held a licence in Maltby. It was not a financial interest, and he would abstain from voting on this item.

At the Chair’s invitation the Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report and made the following points:

·       The cross-party consensus on the importance of safe and secure housing for families in Rotherham was emphasised.

·       Highlighted achievements of previous selective licensing schemes:

·       The new proposals aimed to build on past success and target six areas with persistent issues: poor housing, deprivation, and antisocial behaviour.

·       The Housing Act provided the Council with the authority to require landlords in designated areas to license properties and comply with conditions.

·       The Council had engaged with 16,000 properties and acknowledged that while many respondents to the consultation did not support selective licensing in principle, there was strong agreement on the issues it aims to tackle.

·       The scheme was self-funding, with fees solely being used for administration and enforcement.

·       The previous scheme overspent by £90,000, which was covered by general funds.

·       The scheme was evidence-led, community-informed, and aligned with the Council’s housing strategy and plan.

·       The scheme was a tool to drive up standards, protect our tenants, support responsible landlords.

At the Chair’s invitation the Assistant Director, Community Safety and Street Scene acknowledged the extensive nature of the report, indicating that the most critical elements would be highlighted that demonstrated the evidential basis for the proposed selective licensing declarations and the effectiveness of the consultation process.

The Assistant Director, Community Safety and Street Scene explained that the report built upon the outcomes of two previous five-year schemes, which had run from 2015 to 2025. Those schemes had led to significant improvements in housing safety across Rotherham, in terms of the significant number of hazards identified. The Council had issued a number of notices and had prepared 48 prosecutions against non-compliant landlords which were in various stages of completion. Those interventions had made a substantial number of properties safer for families.

The report provided significant information regarding the evidence base and how it related to particular areas. The evidence base was set out within the Housing Act. Also required through the provision of the Housing Act was a formal and statutory consultation period. This included mailshots to over 16,000 properties and outreach to over 60,000 landlords via national bodies such as the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). Additionally, face-to-face engagement events were held in the affected communities. It was acknowledged that while many respondents did not support selective licensing in principle, there was widespread agreement that the issues the scheme aimed to address - poor housing, environmental crime, and antisocial behaviour - were real and persistent.

In response to the consultation feedback the Council had refined some of the boundaries after reviewing the evidence at a much closer street level.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46