This Council notes with grave concern that visitor numbers in Brighton & Hove dropped by more than 14% year on year in the first four month period of 2012/13

Notice of Motion

Labour GROUP

Covid Related Rent Debt

There is mounting evidence that as direct consequence of Covid, a significant number of Brighton and Hove residents are in rent arears. This is resulting in poverty, insecurity and inevitably for many, homelessness. It is critical that this is addressed urgently.

Housing Committee instructs the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities to

1 - prioritise the current investigation into the use of additional approaches to alleviating rent debt, such as extending housing discretionary payments and/or providing no interest loans, and report back to members of the Housing Committee as a matter of urgency

2 - write to Robert Jenrick MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to request Government funding and support to fund the alleviation of Covid-related rent debt

Proposer - Councillor David Gibson

Seconder - Councillor Gill Williams

2. NOTICE OF MOTION

Private Rental Sector Improving Conditions and Standards

The private rented sector is a disproportionately large sector and is an important source of accommodation for a large number of households covering many different income scales, from basic accommodation through to luxury end. There is a major concern that some of the accommodation, particularly at the lower end of the market where vulnerable households may reside, is not safe and not well managed. Therefore, it is imperative that we take steps to address this.

This motion moves that:

1 - the Committee restates its commitment in the joint housing and homelessness programme to work towards introducing selective landlord licencing in the City of Brighton and Hove as soon as is possible. We note that a previous licensing scheme was blocked by the secretary of state, but we believe the need for a scheme remains. We will therefore ask officers to seek evidence and learn from other local authorities where selective licencing schemes have been introduced and will invite tenants’ representatives (such as ACORN) to provide evidence for further investigation by the Council.

2 - the Committee restates its joint programme commitment to introduce a not-for-profit ethical lettings agency.

3 – The committee will work with Acorn and other stakeholders to draft an ethical landlords’ charter.

Proposer - Councillor Gill Williams

Seconder - Councillor Martin Osborne