By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Gedling Borough Council has relaunched a public consultation to assess whether it should bring in a selective licensing policy to monitor and improve private rented homes in new parts of the borough.
The authority initially launched a 12-week consultation at the end of 2020, with the plans to affect rental accommodation in parts of the Carlton Hill, Daybrook, Newstead Abbey and Colwick wards.
It followed a successful pilot of the same scheme in the Netherfield ward, which launched in October 2018.
However, the Labour-led council put the plans on hold in January last year amid concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic – with new lockdown restrictions enforced and the vaccine rollout only just under way.
But now the authority has approved plans to relaunch the same consultation for a reduced four weeks in order to reassess whether the policy would work in the four borough areas.
Selective licensing schemes are brought in across areas with high levels of rented properties, and aim to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve both housing standards and property conditions for tenants and landlords.
Landlords who rent homes in these areas must pay for a licence and meet criteria set out by the local authority, which aims to ensure the homes they rent are of high quality for the people living in them.
Other councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, including the Labour-led City Council and Independent-led Ashfield District Council, have similar policies and are in the process of updating them.
Gedling Borough Council documents show the initial consultation generated more than 100 responses, with the views “logged and being analysed” by council officers.
A common theme raised in the initial consultation, the council says, was with “regard to the timing with the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions”.
This meant the authority put the plans on hold, with the consultation now extended due to the easing of Government restrictions and the vaccine rollout being “regarded as a success”.
The consultation extension will allow additional people who may have moved into the four areas since January last year to give their views on the selective licensing plans.
Council documents stated: “Now the situation with the pandemic has significantly improved, the vaccine rollout has been regarded as a success and all Government coronavirus restrictions have been removed. the council will need to reach a decision.
“Before reaching a decision, a further four-week consultation would enable anyone who might be affected by the council’s proposal to express their views.
“The costs associated with extending the public consultation to hold a four-week consultation are likely to be minimal.
“These will include minor costs such as printing, advertising and targeted social media adverts, and will be absorbed within existing resources.
“Authorising a public consultation on selective licensing does not commit the council to proceed with a scheme.”
The delegated decision to relaunch the consultation was taken by Councillor David Ellis (Lab), the authority’s portfolio holder for public protection, earlier this month.
The authority will now launch a campaign on its website and social media, with the consultation running until May 23, 2022.
