Agenda item

In response to concerns about the impact of high levels of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Bath, the Cabinet considered a mixture of planning controls and housing-led solutions on 14th March 2012. The Cabinet agreed to make a non-immediate Article 4 Direction covering Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath. Once confirmed, the Article 4 Direction will be supported by a Supplementary Planning Policy setting out the framework within which planning applications for a change of use from a dwelling house to a small HMO will be considered.  The first draft of this has now been prepared entitled Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath: Supplementary Planning Document (Consultation Draft) and is presented to Cabinet for agreement to publish for public consultation in Oct – Nov 2012.

The Planning Officer introduced this item to the Panel. She informed them that in March 2012 the Cabinet agreed to make a non-immediate Article 4 Direction covering Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath. She added that the first draft of the Houses in Multiple Occupation in Bath: Supplementary Planning Document (Consultation Draft) had now been prepared and was to be presented to Cabinet later this week for their agreement to publish for public consultation in Oct – Nov 2012. The final decision on whether to implement the Article 4 Direction, adopt the Supplementary Planning Document and to proceed with Additional Licencing scheme for HMOs will follow in Spring 2013.

The Chairman asked if she could describe what was meant by an ‘exempt area’.

The Planning Officer replied that one resident had requested that Lorne Road be exempted from the scheme due to fears about the impact on their ability to sell their house at market rate if the Article 4 Direction is confirmed as they believe that 90% of the properties are already an HMO. She added that there are currently no plans to make any areas exempt.

The Chairman asked how an ‘area’ was defined.

The Planning Officer replied that it was defined as a super output area via the results of the census. She added that this information would be on the Council’s website and would be refreshed every 6 months.

Councillor Geoff Ward commented that he understood the strategy behind the proposal but feared that the true cost of the process had yet been fully realised. He added that he hoped that enforcement measures on issues such as tidy gardens, car parking and street litter would be carried out.

The Planning Officer replied that following the Panel’s comments on this matter in December 2011 the costs associated with the process had been analysed and could be found in section three of the current report. She added that enforcement measures had been built into the cost model of the Planning element of the process.

Councillor Ian Gilchrist asked if the additional licensing measures were to be synced with the introduction of an Article 4 Direction.

The Planning Officer replied that yes, they were both due to be introduced at the same time. She added that joint consultation events were planned and would investigate whether this could be further highlighted within the document.

Councillor Caroline Roberts asked for confirmation that it was to be the whole of Bath that was to be subject to the Article 4 Direction.

The Planning Officer replied yes. She added that the additional licensing measures would only affect the wards of Westmoreland, Oldfield Park, Widcombe and some further whole streets.

Councillor Brian Webber asked if landlords had to submit full drawings with their application.

The Planning Officer replied that all the requirements for applicants were set out within Section 6 of the SPD.

Councillor Brian Webber commented that he was in favour of the policy, but felt that a balance should be found that was fair to landlords.

The Chairman asked if their comments could be passed to the Cabinet.

The Planning Officer replied that she would.