Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendation:

1.    That the Cabinet response to the Scrutiny Review Recommendations in respect of Impact of Selective Licensing, as set out in section 2 of this report, be approved.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the response of Cabinet to the recommendations of the scrutiny review into the impact of the selective licensing scheme in Rotherham at its halfway point. The recommendations had been presented to Cabinet in September 2023. All eight recommendations had been accepted:

a)    That reinspection be prioritised for landlords whose properties have required action previously.

b)    Consideration be given to how the Council may support retention of experienced inspectors already in the Council’s employment.

c)    That consideration be given to incentivising responsible landlords, and, where there is a proven track record, empowering landlords to self-assess, provided that the service can still obtain assurances that decent standards are maintained.

d)    That consideration be given to managing expectations around selective licensing as a measure focused on the health of residents, rather than aesthetics or regeneration.

e)    That consideration be given to how uptake of the cost-of-living support offer among families in selective licensing areas may be further promoted and monitored, with a view to identifying gaps and promoting financial inclusion.

f)      Given the complexity of measuring impact on deprivation and difficulty in improving relative levels of deprivation, that consideration be given to how internal measures may better reflect the real impact of the scheme.

g)    That a joined-up approach be sought with relevant Council strategies and services, with partner and voluntary sector organisations and with resident-led initiatives prior to any future selective licensing declaration.

h)    That engagement with landlords and with tenants be considered alongside any response to the above recommendations, and that the response to the above recommendations be subject to the learning derived from continued engagement with landlords and tenants.

An update in relation to proposed actions was provided at paragraph 2.1 of the report. During the meeting, the Deputy Leader advised that five of the recommendations were in progress and the other three would be considered as part of any future schemes.

Resolved:-

1.    That the Cabinet response to the Scrutiny Review recommendations in respect of Impact of Selective Licensing, as set out in Section 2 of the report, be approved.