Decision details

The Housing Act introduced tools to help local authorities improve the private rented sector. This decision recommends implementing two of those tools, civil penalties and banning orders, following the outcome of a public consultation regarding the introduction of both, and requests implementation of the policies and an amendment to the Public Protection Enforcement Policy to reflect these changes, as set out in the Executive report published for 24 March 2020, reference E/19/58.

1. That the Civil Penalties Policy detailed in Appendix 1 to report E/19/58 be adopted;

2. That the Banning Order Policy detailed in Appendix 2 to report E/19/58 be adopted;

3. That the Public Protection Enforcement Policy detailed in Appendix 4 to report E/19/58 be adopted;

4. That the Operations Manager - Public Protection be authorised to make amendments to Annex A of the Enforcement Policy to reflect legislative changes as and when they occur where the amendments do not materially affect the Policy.

Reasons for decision:

a) The Chief Executive has exercised the delegated authority granted to him by the Leader on 24th March to take decisions on any and all Executive functions in consultation with the Leader (or in his absence or unavailability, with the Deputy Leader) to enable provisions to come into effect which the Council may require during the pandemic.

b) 1., 2. & 3. To enable Civil Penalties and Banning orders to be operated and ensure enforcement action taken is transparent and proportionate and 4. to ensure that the enforcement policy is up to date and that action taken under the policy is in line with legislation.