Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the report and progress to date.

2.    Approve the approach to the community liaison roles and stakeholder panels.

3.    Approve the approach to establishing the capital programme, with stakeholder groups identifying local priorities and delegate agreement for the final governance arrangement to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Service Director for Legal Services.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the operational model, responsibilities, governance and expected outcomes for both the liaison function and the capital funding in relation to Selective Licensing.

The Council had made declarations for 6 new Selective Licensing areas which commenced in February 2026 for a period of 5 years. While traditional Selective Licensing tools had enabled the Council to regulate private landlords and deal directly with specific housing problems, during the consultation undertaken prior to declaration, the Council also heard from both tenants and landlords about wider problems in their communities. These included environmental and anti-social behaviour problems, and a lack of direct support to tenants. 

To maximise the positive outcomes of these new designations, including improved housing standards, stronger community engagement, and enhanced regulatory intervention, as part of the 2026/27 budget setting process, the Council had agreed an additional revenue investment of £362,000 per annum. This aimed to increase the impact of enforcement and regulatory activity, provide additional direct support to tenants, as well as provide increased capacity to ensure local stakeholder groups were well run and well supported. In addition, the Council also agreed the allocation of a £500,000 capital budget over 4 years, 2026/2027 to 2029/2030, spread across the 6 areas, to deliver targeted improvements that complemented enforcement activity. This Capital Programme would be shaped by the local stakeholder groups, and local teams.

In response to consultation feedback, the Council had agreed to establish new Stakeholder Panels in each of the designated areas. Stakeholder Groups would be multi-agency groups representing residents, landlords, partners, Elected Members and Council Services. The Groups would identify improvement priorities, review performance of the scheme and impacts locally and propose or review potential capital projects. The Panels would also advise on community impacts and emerging issues.

During the meeting it was confirmed that the posts described in paragraph 2.2.1 of the report had been recruited to.

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board who advised that the recommendations be supported. They also made t2additional recommendations:

-       That officers set out a clear escalation plan where licence application rates fall below expectations and provide the relevant Scrutiny Commission with regular updates on licence uptake, enforcement activity, and any risks to the effectiveness of the Scheme.

-       Ensure that communications requesting nominations for the Stakeholder Groups clearly indicate that applicants who require reasonable adjustments will be duly considered.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the report and progress to date.

2.    Approve the approach to the Community Liaison roles and Stakeholder Panels.

3.    Approve the approach to establishing the Capital Programme, with stakeholder groups identifying local priorities and delegate agreement for the final governance arrangement to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Service Director for Legal Services.

4.    Instruct officers to set out a clear escalation plan where licence application rates fall below expectations and provide the relevant Select Commission with regular updates on licence uptake, enforcement activity, and any risks to the effectiveness of the Scheme.

5.    Instruct officers to ensure that communications requesting nominations for the Stakeholder Groups clearly indicate that applicants who require reasonable adjustments will be duly considered.