Agenda item - Short Term Lets Task & Finish Group Scoping Report

Report of the Corporate Director, City Services (copy attached).

19.1    Giles Rossington, Policy, Partnerships and Scrutiny Manager, presented the scoping report for the Short Term Lets Task & Finish Group. The report detailed work and evidence gathering for the group. The report suggests some areas to focus on for this topic, but the committee are welcome to suggest any others. The proposed terms of reference for the group is in the appendix.

19.2    Cllr Lyons commented that he had a resident message him that day about a Short Term Let property in a road in Hove that advertises free parking. This has caused a nightmare for the residents on that road as there is a flood of cars there and not enough spaces for everyone to park. Cllr Lyons also asked whether adverts could be monitored. Giles Rossington confirmed that this had been identified as an issue, and that the group might want to look at what is being advertised.

19.3    Cllr Hewitt asked a question about the Independent member suggested in the Terms of reference.  Cllr Evans explained that the proposal is to offer a place to an Independent Councillor on the Task & Finish Group but that it doesn’t have to be the Independent Councillor who is a member of the Place Committee. The approach will be to speak to the whips about who wants to be on the group.

19.4    Cllr Grimshaw referred to paragraph 3.2 and asked where the estimated figure came from and whether it includes students. Giles Rossington clarified that the data came from the Air BnB website but that not all properties are registered so the information is limited. The definition being used for the Task & Finish Group will not include those renting rooms to students over the summer because the property would still count as that person’s main residence. Cllr Grimshaw asked where the information would come from. Cllr Evans replied that this is an issue to look in to and would likely include searching those properties being advertised through Air BnB and Booking.com. Giles Rossington added that the group would talk to colleagues in Planning for further information and will compare the data with other Local Authorities.

19.5    Mark Strong asked about the membership, mentioning members of People Committee being included. Cllr Evans explained that this matter will be going through Place Committee although there are some aspects that fall into the remit of People Committee, such as the impact on community cohesion and homelessness. Cllr Jackie O’Quinn, who is Chair of the People Committee, is interested and would like to be on the Task & Finish Group. As the representative from the Voluntary Sector is not a voting member, they can have more than one attendee if they wish. It is an informal group. Mark Strong replied that voluntary organisations are in the witness list, and he will use his networks to call for witnesses.

19.6    Cllr Fishleigh commented that we are waiting for government legislation on this and asked whether we have reached out to the local MPs to ask about timescales. If this is not a priority for them, then there isn’t much that can be done if the legislation is not there to support the work. Cllr Evans explained that there are some things that can be done such as Air BnB being open to having a voluntary register. There are lots of houses in the city that are Short Term Lets but only have one person paying Council Tax like a normal dwelling. This potentially means they are not paying business rates or ensuring the property has adequate safety standards. When canvassing in the Kemptown area, Cllr Evans came across many flats where she was told “no one lives here, it’s a full time bnb”. Cllr Evans suggested getting MPs or possibly the Deputy Prime Minister on the witness list to comment on the timescales.

19.7    In response to a question from Cllr Pickett, Cllr Evans explained that the purpose of this meeting was not to delve into the issues with Short Term Lets but to agree to establish the Task & Finish Group and the Terms of reference. The whips will decide who will be on the group.

RESOLVED that:

2.1 Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee agrees to establish a Task & Finish Group to scrutinise the issue of Short Term Lets.

2.2 Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee agrees Terms of Reference, membership and duration of the Task & Finish Group as set out in Appendix 2.