Issue - meetings

*RESOLVED –

1.    That the proposed Private Sector Housing Action Plan be approved and two new posts be established within the Private Sector Housing Team.

2.    That the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy (2021-2024) be approved.

3.    That the Service Director – Housing be granted delegated authority to agree minor adjustments to the Renewal Policy and Action Plan between formal review periods.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.    To allow the Private Sector Housing Team to help more vulnerable tenants living in owner-occupied and private rented accommodation within the borough.

2.    To enable the Council to offer financial assistance (other than Disabled Facilities Grants) to vulnerable homeowners which will allow them to continue to live independently in their own, warm and safe homes.

The Service Director - Housing and Private Sector Housing Manager submitted a report seeking approval for the Private Sector Housing Action Plan, Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy (2021-2024) and the establishment of two new posts within the Private Sector Housing Team.

The Housing Act 2004 and the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 require Chesterfield Borough Council to ensure that minimum legislative standards are maintained within the borough’s private sector housing stock in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of owner-occupiers and tenants living in private rented accommodation.

Significant progress had been made by the Private Sector Housing Team over recent years and to further build on this progress it was now felt necessary to improve the capacity and resilience of the team. It was therefore proposed that a new Senior Environmental Health Officer post be established to support existing team members with the ever increasing complexity of private sector housing enforcement work.

It was also proposed as part of a refresh of the existing Empty Homes Policy to establish a new Environmental Health Officer post to carry out specific responsibilities with regards bringing empty homes back into use.

The Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy (2021-2024), as attached to the officer’s report at Appendix A, had been written in response to Chesterfield Borough Council’s recently commissioned Stock Condition Survey and aimed to utilise the provisions contained within The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 to target assistance where most needed.

The report identified the financial implications of the proposed measures, set out a number of alternative options and referenced consideration of other implications.

*RESOLVED –

1.    That the proposed Private Sector Housing Action Plan be approved and two new posts be established within the Private Sector Housing Team.

2.    That the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy (2021-2024) be approved.

3.    That the Service Director – Housing be granted delegated authority to agree minor adjustments to the Renewal Policy and Action Plan between formal review periods.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.    To allow the Private Sector Housing Team to help more vulnerable tenants living in owner-occupied and private rented accommodation within the borough.

2.    To enable the Council to offer financial assistance (other than Disabled Facilities Grants) to vulnerable homeowners which will allow them to continue to live independently in their own, warm and safe homes.