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Agenda item

Extending Selective Licensing in the Private Rented Sector

In April 2014 the Executive approved the introduction of an Additional Licensing

scheme, covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the borough and

in August 2014 approved the introduction of a Selective Licensing scheme,

covering all private rented housing in the wards of Harlesden, Wembley Central

and Willesden Green. Both schemes came into effect in January 2015 and run

to 31^st December 2019.This report proposes a further extension of Selective

Licensing, setting out the rationale for the scheme taking account of progress

since 2015 and changes to the regulations covering Selective Licensing.

[Note: the appendices to this report will be published as a separate pack to the main agenda]

Decision:

RESOLVED

13.1 Cabinet agreed that the legal requirements for introducing Selective Licensing on the grounds of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and/or migration and/or deprivation and/or poor housing conditions have been met with regard to the proposed selective licensing designation areas as summarised in table 6 in paragraph 10.10 of the report from the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing, which cover the following Council wards:

(i) Dudden Hill, Kensal Green, Kilburn, Mapesbury, Queens Park (designation area 1 - on grounds of anti-social behaviour, poor housing conditions, migration and high levels of crime);

(ii) Brondesbury Park, Queensbury (designation 2 on grounds of migration, anti-social behaviour and high level of crime);

(iii) Dollis Hill, Welsh Harp (designation 3 on grounds of poor housing conditions and anti-social behaviour);

(iv) Alperton, Barnhill, Sudbury, Tokyngton (designation 4 on grounds of anti-social behaviour and poor housing conditions);

(v) Stonebridge (designation 5 on grounds of anti-social behaviour, high levels of crime, deprivation and poor housing conditions);

(vi) Fryent, Kenton, Northwick Park, Preston (designation 6 on grounds of anti-social behaviour and migration).

13.2 Cabinet agreed to authorise the designation of six areas for selective licensing to last for five years from the date of designation which cover the following Council wards as delineated and edged red on the map(s) at Paragraph 10.10, Figure 16 of the report from the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing:

(i) Dudden Hill, Kensal Green, Kilburn, Mapesbury, Queens Park (designation area 1);

(ii) Brondesbury Park, Queensbury (designation 2);

(iii) Dollis Hill, Welsh Harp (designation 3);

(iv) Alperton, Barnhill, Sudbury, Tokyngton (designation 4);

(v) Stonebridge (designation 5);

(vi) Fryent, Kenton, Northwick Park, Preston (designation 6)

13.3 Cabinet agreed to seek consent from the Secretary of State for the designation for Selective Licensing of the six areas as set out in paragraphs 2.1 and 10.9 of the report from the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing, which would last for five years from the date of designation, if approved by the Secretary of State.

13.4 Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the lead member for housing and welfare reform, to issue the required statutory notifications in relation to the Selective Licensing Scheme designations.

13.5 Cabinet approved the licensing conditions for the proposed designation areas for selective licensing as set out in Appendix 4 of the report from the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing and authorised the Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the lead member for housing and welfare reform, to make any minor variations to such licensing conditions.

13.6 Cabinet agreed that, subject to consent being obtained from the Secretary of State, and the issue of statutory notifications, the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the lead member for housing and welfare reform be authorised to decide the date from which the council will begin to accept applications for Selective Licensing for the six designated areas and the date on which the designations and the extended Selective Licensing scheme will come into effect.

13.7 Cabinet agreed that the fees for Selective Licensing would be set at £540 in all proposed designated wards for the five year licensing period, including those three wards covered by the current scheme, as set out in paragraph 11.2. of the report from the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing

13.8 Cabinet agreed that authority should be delegated to the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the lead member for housing and welfare reform to agree the basis for and level of any discounts to be applied to these fees.

13.9 Cabinet noted that the proposed Selective Licensing scheme will be kept under review annually. Any significant changes, including the withdrawal of a licensing designation or a proposal to introduce a new designation, would be subject to further consultation and a decision by Cabinet.

Minutes:

Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, introduced the report proposing the extension of the Selective Licensing scheme to all wards of the borough. Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities could introduce Selective Licensing schemes that focussed on improving the management of privately rented properties accommodating single households as well as Houses of Multiple Occupancies (HMOs). The council’s existing Selective Licensing scheme, which would be unaffected by the proposed changes, currently covered all private rented housing in the wards of Harlesden, Wembley Central and Willesden Green, having come in to effect in January 2015. Reconsideration of the scope of Selective Licensing had been prompted by the continued growth of the sector and continued concerns about its links with the incidence of Anti-Social Behaviour and other issues. Furthermore, changes to regulations in March 2015 now allowed Licensing to be considered as a means to address poor property conditions, high levels of migration (national and international), high levels of deprivation and high levels of crime, all factors that could be considered relevant in Brent. An extensive consultation exercise had been carried out alongside further research, the results of which were detailed in the report.

Councillor Farah also stated that as the proposed extension would require the consent of the Secretary of State as it would result in a licensing designation covering more than 20% of the local authority area or private sector stock.

Councillors Miller, Tatler, Hirani and McLennan spoke in support of the proposal.

In response to a query from the Chair, Phil Porter (Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing) confirmed that it was anticipated that the extended Selective Licensing scheme would be implemented by January 2018.