Minutes:
1. Labour and Co-operative Party motion submitted by Cllr R King: A review and study into a selective licensing scheme for the Englefield Green, Egham Town, Egham Hythe and Thorpe Lea area.
Cllr King moved the following Motion.
‘This Council Resolves that:
(1) A study of the local housing stocks be conducted in the areas discussed above, with a report to be produced, detailing, but not limited to:
a. The number, size and type of dwellings.
b. Whether each dwelling is owner occupied, rented or vacant.
c. Where the property is rented, to identify whether it is as a single unit or HMO.
d. The number of tenant complaints raised to the authority’s housing officers in the past 10 years, and the type of action taken to resolve with landlords.
(2) Review the most appropriate way to grade the quality of rental properties, using the Decent Home Standard, and how this fits most appropriately into the local setting.
(3) Assess an initial randomised sample of the areas rental stock and review each unit according to the aforementioned quality standards.
(4) An initial findings report be presented to members of Housing Committee and circulated to all Councillors, by the 9th of March 2022 meeting, which will include:
a. The key findings of the above
b. The options for the authority improving PRS housing standard through Section 80 of the Act
c. The resources needed to implement a selective license scheme in the area
d. The PRS quality improvements which could be achieved by licensing properties
e. To provide whatever support Runnymede can to highlight model local landlords.
A reference back report be presented to Full Council by the 28th of April, highlighting the report, the options recommended by Housing Committee and a final decision whether a selective licensing scheme should be pursued in the areas mentioned.’
In moving the Motion, Cllr King stated that decent homes should be a right for all residents, no matter of their income, personal circumstances, or household size. Whilst decent homes were needed across the Borough, Englefield Green, Egham Town, Egham Hythe and Thorpe Lea areas had significant types of housing pressures not seen elsewhere in Runnymede. A significant number of privately rented properties in these areas were in poor condition, with a number of streets in which they were located facing particular types of antisocial behaviour not seen elsewhere in the Borough, and that housing migration from outside Runnymede was particularly acute. Cllr King considered it vital that information was obtained to assess the scale of the problem in order to address it.
During the debate on the Motion, Cllr King accepted that the Environment and Sustainability Committee was the more appropriate Committee for the Motion, if passed, to be referred to as it was that Committee which had responsibility for enforcement of standards in the private rented sector.
Whilst Members sympathised with the plight some private rented tenants faced, legislation currently existed to ensure protection of private tenants and to tackle rogue landlords .Some Members felt Runnymede already directly and indirectly assisted private rental tenants. The Motion.if passed, could effectively create a two tier system for 20% of the borough.
A named vote was requested on the Motion and the voting was as follows:
For (12): Cllrs Alderson, Balkan, Burton, Clarke, Cressey,Gill, R King, Kusneraitis, Mullens, D Whyte, S Whyte and Williams.
Against (18): Cllrs Adams, Broadhead, Bromley, Coen, Cotty, Dennett, Furey, J Gracey, T Gracey, Howorth, Hulley, N King, Lewis, Maddox, Nuti, Prescot, Snow and Sohi.
Abstentions (2) Cllrs Harnden and Olorenshaw.
The Motion was lost.
2. Liberal Democrat motion submitted by Cllr S Whyte: Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) to promote The Great Big Green Week in September 2022.
Councillor S Whyte moved the following Motion:to promote The Great Big Green Week in September 2022:
· A report be prepared and submitted to the Environment & Sustainability Committee with a range of proposals and costings to be considered; and
· Runnymede Borough Council seriously consider taking part in The Great Big Green Week in 2022
Members considered this was a positive event which would raise awareness and understanding.
Council was fully supportive of the Motion which was duly passed.