Decision details

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which sought approval to commence consultations on the emerging draft Supplementary Planning Document for assessing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and self-contained flats, and to revoke the Interim Planning Guidance “New Housing in South Sefton”.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the draft Supplementary Planning Document be approved as the basis for public consultation;

(2)       the Interim Planning Guidance ‘New Housing in South Sefton’ be revoked; and

(3)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but, had not been included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) has been consulted under Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because the current planning policy on HMOs and flats is out of date due to recent appeal decisions (26 March 2012) and changes to the housing benefits system.  This could leave the Council at risk from either granting planning permission for poor quality accommodation or facing appeals to the Planning Inspectorate where the Council may be liable to applications to pay legal costs.