Decision details

To consider the business case for selective licensing in Beeston under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004

The Director of Resources and Housing submitted a report which presented for the Board's consideration the appended business case regarding the proposal for selective licensing designation in Beeston, and the proposed designation of the area outlined on the map at Appendix 1 of the business case as a selective licensing area, with effect from the 6th January 2020.

It was noted that following the despatch of the agenda papers and prior to the meeting, correspondence which had been received from a member of the public concerning both items 18: ‘Business Case for Proposed Selective Licensing Designation: Harehills’ and item 19: ‘Business Case for Proposed Selective Licensing Designation: Beeston’, had been circulated to Executive Board Members for their consideration as part of the Board’s deliberations on this matter. During the consideration of this report, Members’ attention was drawn to such correspondence which focussed upon the consultation process undertaken in Beeston.

It was also noted that following the despatch of the agenda papers and prior to the meeting, Board Members had received a reformatted version of Appendix 2 to the appended business case, with it being noted that the data in the appendix remained as originally published and circulated, with the information simply being re-provided in a sharper/clearer format for the benefit of the reader.

In presenting the report, the Director of Resources and Housing drew Members’ attention to the legal criteria for designating an area as set out in the report, and the information in the business case demonstrating that these criteria were met. 

Also, Members received information on the outcomes on the significant consultation processes which had been undertaken, and it was explained that the consultation exercise did not represent a vote on the proposal, but rather formed one piece of evidence which the Board was asked to consider. It was noted that overall the response to the residents’ consultation was against the proposal,  with 92% of online responses being against the proposal. However, officers explained that there remained concerns about the validity of some of the online responses received following validation of the feedback and when compared to the paper responses received. It was noted that such concerns were not explainable by the correspondence which had been received.

In conclusion, Executive Board Members were asked to take such matters into consideration when weighing up all of the evidence available to them.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report and the business case for Beeston, as appended to that cover report, be noted;

(b)  That the business case for selective licensing designation in Beeston, as appended to the cover report, be approved;

(c)  That approval be given to designate the area shown on the business case map as detailed at Appendix 1 of the submitted business case document (appended to the covering report) as a selective licensing area with effect from 6th January 2020;

(d)  That it be noted that the Director of Housing and Resources is responsible for implementation of those resolutions detailed above.

Ward members

Public consultation- undertaken as part of the business case

Beeston and Holbeck Members

Gohar Almas

Angela Gabriel

Andrew Scoopes

Riverside and Hunslet Members

Mohammed Iqbal

Elizabeth Nash

Paul Wray