Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) – Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing – Terms of Reference (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) – Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing – Summary Report of the working group meeting held on 16^th October 2008 (Appendix 2 refers)

A copy of the Executive Board report entitled ‘Strategy for improving Leeds Private Sector Housing’, dated 5^th November 2008, the ‘Leeds Private Sector House Condition Survey 2007’ report and the ‘City Living in Leeds – 2007’ had been circulated to Board Members as background information which would also form part of the evidence base for this inquiry.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Andy Beattie, Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer

Jon Hough, Principal Housing Strategy Officer

Mike Brook, Private Rented Sector Housing Manager

Board Members received a presentation from Andy Beattie which provided an overview of the purpose and findings of the recent Leeds Private Sector Stock Condition survey.

During the presentation, a question and answer session ensued and Mr Beattie responded to Members’ queries and comments which were noted and recorded by the Principal Scrutiny Adviser as part of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Board Members requested further information in relation to the following specific issues:-

·  the need to see the relevant English House Conditions Survey to compare Leeds with national trends in relation to category one hazards

·  to compare the data around non-decent private sector stock with that of public sector stock

·  to receive evidence of any costings work carried out in relation to the remodelling of back to back properties and how the Council should be addressing this matter with private landlords

·  the need for the Board to be supplied with a copy of the latest HECA report in relation to rising fuel costs and links with fuel poverty

·  the need for further information in relation to the ethnicity of landlords

The Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer responded and agreed to follow up the information requested via the Principal Scrutiny Adviser.

The Chair then invited Board Members to put forward questions and points of clarification to Mr Beattie, Mr Hough and Mr Brook and the detailed comments were duly noted and recorded by the Principal Scrutiny Adviser as part of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  clarification of a joint working initiative between Liverpool Council and their Primary Care Trust to address hazards within properties

·  clarification of how Private Rented Stock was monitored within the authority

·  clarification of the criteria around the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for all houses in multiple occupation and single occupied properties

·  that the area profile reports produced by the department around empty properties should be accessible to all Elected Members via the Council’s Intranet

·  the need for more information on the costings involved in providing the services of the Council’s Empty Property Team

·  clarification of the licensing of HMOs and the role of landlords

·  the lack of progress in relation to the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) and for landlords to be more proactive in this area

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices, together with the presentation and background information be noted.

(b)  That this Board notes the summary report of the working group, together with the evidence provided in line with session one of its Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

(Councillor M Rafique joined the meeting at 11.10am during discussions of the above item)

(Councillor A Castle left the meeting at 11.25am during discussions

of the above item)