RESOLVED:

1.That Cabinet approve Consultation on the proposed introduction of Selective Licensing to Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Longthorton; and Pollards Hill Wards

2. That Cabinet approve Consultation on the proposed introduction of Additional Licensing to Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Longthornton; Pollards Hill; Colliers Wood; Cricket Green and Lavender Fields Wards

3.That Cabinet approve an Immediate Article 4, noting the possible financial risk to the Council

4. That Cabinet approve Consultation on the introduction of an Immediate Article 4 Direction for small HMOs in Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Lonthornton; Pollards Hill; Colliers Wood; Cricket Green and Lavender Fields Wards

5. That Cabinet note that following the consultation exercise, which is scheduled to run from November 2022 to January 2023, a further report will be brought back to Cabinet to agree the way forward following consideration of representations received 6. That Cabinet note the report on Empty Homes which is for information only

7. That Cabinet agree that the additional cost of £134k be funded by a transfer from the corporate contingency fund

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development presented the report, noting that Merton had over 29,000 rented properties within the Borough, above the national average and providing an overview of some of the issues within this sector.

The Cabinet Member gave an overview of the measures proposed within the report. These would all require consultation and a robust evidence base as well as consideration of the geographical areas these measures would be applied to. The data provided had highlighted certain wards and therefore having reviewed this data the proposed recommendations were set out.

If the Consultation results were in favour, the Article 4 direction would be immediately applied to those particular wards set out in the recommendations. Selective licensing could be introduced by September 2023 and an Article 4 direction by May 2023.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for their work and it was RESOLVED:

1.That Cabinet approve Consultation on the proposed introduction of Selective Licensing to Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Longthorton; and Pollards Hill Wards

2. That Cabinet approve Consultation on the proposed introduction of Additional Licensing to Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Longthornton; Pollards Hill; Colliers Wood; Cricket Green and Lavender Fields Wards

3.That Cabinet approve an Immediate Article 4, noting the possible financial risk to the Council

4. That Cabinet approve Consultation on the introduction of an Immediate Article 4 Direction for small HMOs in Figge’s Marsh; Graveney; Lonthornton; Pollards Hill; Colliers Wood; Cricket Green and Lavender Fields Wards

5. That Cabinet note that following the consultation exercise, which is scheduled to run from November 2022 to January 2023, a further report will be brought back to Cabinet to agree the way forward following consideration of representations received 6. That Cabinet note the report on Empty Homes which is for information only

7. That Cabinet agree that the additional cost of £134k be funded by a transfer from the corporate contingency fund