Issue - meetings

Consideration of recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of fees and charges for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Caravan Site Licences.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of proposed fees for licensing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and caravan sites for permanent residential use with effect from 1 April 2026.  The charging proposals reflected a range of factors including the Borough Councils overall financial position, market position, trading patterns, the current rate of inflation and customer feedback.

Due regard was given to the views of the Committee, the financial and value for money considerations, the assessment of risk and the legal implications.

In recognition of the Borough Councils overall financial position, the increasing challenges in achieving further expenditure savings and the importance of maximising income Cllr Boughton proposed, Cllr Mehmet seconded and Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the proposed fee for licensing HMOs (representing an increase of 4%) as detailed in 5.1 of the report, be approved;

(2)             the proposed fee for caravan sites for permanent residential use (representing an increase of 4%), as detailed in the 5.2 of the report, be approved; and

(3)             the proposed fees be implemented from 1 April 2026.

(Decision Notice D260004CAB)

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of proposed fees for licensing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and caravan sites for permanent residential use with effect from 1 April 2026.  The charging proposals reflected a range of factors including the Borough Councils overall financial position, market position, trading patterns, the current rate of inflation and customer feedback.

Due regard was given to the views of the Committee, the financial and value for money considerations, the assessment of risk and the legal implications.

In recognition of the Borough Councils overall financial position, the increasing challenges in achieving further expenditure savings and the importance of maximising income Cllr Boughton proposed, Cllr Mehmet seconded and Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the proposed fee for licensing HMOs (representing an increase of 4%) as detailed in 5.1 of the report, be approved;

(2)             the proposed fee for caravan sites for permanent residential use (representing an increase of 4%), as detailed in the 5.2 of the report, be approved; and

(3)             the proposed fees be implemented from 1 April 2026.

This report sets out the proposed fees for licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and caravan sites for permanent residential use from 1 April 2026.

Consideration was given to the proposed fees for licensing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and caravan sites for permanent residential use with effect from 1 April 2026.

In bringing forward the charging proposals for 2026/27 consideration had been given to a range of factors, including the Borough Council’s overall financial and market positions, trading patterns, the current rate of inflation and customer feedback.  A set of guiding principles for the setting of fees and charges had also been taken into account and were summarised in 4.2 of the report.

Particular reference was made to the Borough Council’s significant and challenging financial position and as it was becoming increasingly difficult to achieve further expenditure savings to meet the targets in the Savings and Transformation Strategy and it was essential that opportunities to maximise income were taken, Cllr King proposed, Cllr Thornewell seconded and it was

*RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the proposed fee for licensing HMOs (representing an increase of 4%) as detailed in 5.1 of the report, be approved;

(2)             the proposed fee for caravan sites for permanent residential use (representing an increase of 4%) as detailed in 5.2 of the report, be approved; and

(3)             the proposed fees be implemented from 1 April 2026.

*Recommended to Cabinet