Agenda item

Reference from Neighbourhoods & Community Services Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 14^th January 2020 – Airbnb Licensing

(a)  That the following recommendation of the Panel be supported in principle:

“That the Cabinet allocate sufficient resources to allow planning enforcement to be considered for all Airbnb properties that require planning permission for change of use. This is intended to safeguard family accommodation.”

(b)  That the proposed resources be considered as part of the budget setting process of Cabinet and Council in February 2020.

(c)  That the monies recovered from the Proceeds of Crime Act be utilised to offset the costs where possible, and that the funding be reviewed after a year.

The Cabinet considered a reference from the Neighbourhoods & Community Services Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 14^th January 2020 regarding Airbnb Licensing.

The Panel had expressed concern about the potentially negative impact short term lettings could have on family accommodation and the community.  It therefore resolved:

“That the Cabinet allocate sufficient resources to allow planning enforcement to be considered for all Airbnb properties that require planning permission for change of use. This is intended to safeguard family accommodation.”

The Cabinet welcomed the work of the scrutiny panel on this emerging issue and agreed in principle that sufficient resources should be made available to take the necessary action to avoid the potentially negative impacts of regular short term lets of this nature.  Officers had not yet fully scoped or costed the activity that would be undertaken but it was indicated that additional staff resource costing £62,000 per annum would be sufficient.  This proposal would be taken forward in the budget setting process and it was noted that some of costs could be offset from monies recovered from the Proceeds of Crime Act.  It was proposed and agreed that any funding be reviewed in twelve months.

Officers advised that there were various approaches that could be taken to identify and address the negative impacts.  It was agreed that the Council should use its communication channels to make residents more aware of the issue to ensure they knew how to report any concerns about properties in their neighbourhoods.  Consideration would be given to the type of enforcement or policy led approach likely to be most effective.  It was suggested that the scrutiny panel add a further report to its work programme to monitor progress.

Resolved –

(a)  That the recommendation of the Neighbourhoods & Community Services Scrutiny Panel be supported in principle.

(b)  That the proposed resources be considered as part of the budget setting process.

(c)  That the monies recovered from the Proceeds of Crime Act be utilised to offset the costs where possible, and that the funding be reviewed after a year.