Decision details

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the changes to the licensing and management of Caravan and Mobile Home Parks, as introduced under the Mobile Homes Act 2013 be noted.

2.   That the matters to be taken into consideration when determining whether a licensee or site manager is a ‘fit and proper person’, as detailed in sections 6.11 to 6.14 of the officer’s report, be approved.

3.   That the proposed fee structure, as detailed in the Fee Policy at Appendix A of the officer’s report, be approved.

4.   That the Model Standards for Caravan Sites in England 2008 be adopted as the minimum standards to be applied to licence conditions.

5.   That responsibility for the approval of any variations to the Council’s adopted standards for residential Caravan and Mobile Homes Parks, to accord with changes to the Model Standards, be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Housing.

6.   That the responsibility for the authorisation and refusal of licence applications, including renewal, revocation and licence variations be delegated to the Health and Wellbeing Manager and the Private Sector Housing Manager.

7.   That responsibility for the enforcement of licence conditions, including the inspection of sites, issuing of Compliance Orders, emergency remedial action and the authorisation of works in default, be delegated to the Private Sector Housing Manager.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

The powers and resources now available to the local authority will enable it to take appropriate action to monitor and enforce reasonable minimum standards on Mobile Homes Sites.   It will provide vulnerable occupiers, many of whom are elderly, with regulatory protection against the worst practices of unscrupulous site owners.