Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor David Smith, Lead Member for Public Realm (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to the re-designation of an additional licensing scheme for HMOs within Rhyl together with associated conditions and fees.

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)       approve the re-designation of an additional licensing scheme for Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within Rhyl for a further 5 years as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)       approve the Conditions to be imposed as part of an “Additional” and “Mandatory” Licensing Scheme as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report;

(c)        approve the Fees to be applied to an “Additional” and “Mandatory” Licensing Scheme as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report, and

(d)       supports the implementation date to be no later than 1 April 2015 which complies with the minimum 3 month statutory period between an approved designate and implementation.

Councillor David Smith presented the report seeking Cabinet approval to the re-designation of an additional licensing scheme for HMOs within Rhyl together with associated licensing conditions and fees.  The current additional scheme was due to expire on 31 December 2014 and following a comprehensive review and consultation exercise it was recommended that the scheme be re-designated for a further five years.

Cabinet considered the findings of the review and consultation exercise and were supportive of the scheme as a means of improving standards of accommodation.  Officers confirmed that Rhyl Town Council and Rhyl Member Area Group were in support and other local authorities had been consulted in order to share best practice.  Assurances were sought that adequate resources were available for housing enforcement and officers explained enforcement was just one of a range of measures to secure improvement and they were content that appropriate resources had been made available given the current financial climate.   Delivery of the scheme had been identified as a service priority.  Communities Scrutiny Committee Chair Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts outlined the scrutiny debate on re-designation of the scheme and confirmed they were supportive of it.

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)       approve the re-designation of an additional licensing scheme for Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within Rhyl for a further 5 years as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)       approve the Conditions to be imposed as part of an “Additional” and “Mandatory” Licensing Scheme as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report;

(c)        approve the Fees to be applied to an “Additional” and “Mandatory” Licensing Scheme as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report, and

(d)       supports the implementation date to be no later than 1 April 2015 which complies with the minimum 3 month statutory period between an approved designate and implementation.