Agenda item

Questions from Members of the Public

 

To receive questions from members of the public who wish to ask a general question in respect of matters within the Council’s area of responsibility or influence.

 

Subject to the Chair’s discretion, members of the public may ask one question and one supplementary question, which should relate to the original question and answered received.

 

Councillors may also ask questions under this agenda item.

 

Minutes:

A member of the public detailed his own concerns about the availability of accommodation in the Borough, the number of people on the Council housing waiting list and the availability of good quality well maintained private landlord properties.

 

He asked what action could the Council take to ensure appropriate good quality housing was available for tenants across the Borough.

 

Councillor Beck, Cabinet Member for Housing, agreed with the member of the public’s sentiment  about the number of people on the Council’s waiting list for accommodation which was rising year on year. However, there was only so much the Council could do through its own Council housing stock.

 

The Council did have four Selective Licensing Schemes within the Borough in terms of the private rented sector, which was specifically intended to raise housing conditions in those areas and to work with landlords to raise those standards laid out by the Selective Licensing Scheme.

 

The Council found some early signs of success, but it remained an ongoing challenge.  There would be opportunities to work with the private rented sector to raise standards, but it was more difficult where Selective Licensing was not in operation.

 

The Council had been given powers to regulate the private sector and it was doing all it could to raise standards.  The Council would take action to prosecute landlords who were not complying and would continue to pursue the best for the residents of the Borough.