Agenda item - Short-term Holiday Lets (Party Houses) - Scrutiny Panel Report

Report of the Monitoring Officer (copy attached).

44.1         Councillor Robins introduced the report which detailed the response to and the Scrutiny Panel’s report on Short-term Lets (Party Houses).  He stated that the Panel had worked effectively and had identified a number of actions that could be taken forward.  He also wished to thank the other Panel Members for their hard work and all those that attended to give evidence and also Dexter Allan from the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

44.2         Councillor Mitchell noted that the Panel’s recommendations had been accepted at the recent Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee meeting.  She also noted that the issue of party houses fell under the responsibility of a number of areas and therefore it was important to share information and work collaboratively.

44.3         Councillor Phillips welcomed the report and stated that she hoped the implementation of the recommendations would help to improve matters, especially as she had received a number of complaints since May.

44.4         Councillor Morris stated that he wished to thank the Scrutiny Panel for a thorough piece of work and it was important to take residents’ views into account and find ways to address their concerns.  He also referred to a recent case in the courts, Moore v Secretary of State for Local Government and suggested that legal and planning officers should look at the judgement as it may set a precedent.  He also believed that more could be done and hoped that the report was the start of that process to improve matters.

44.5         The Mayor congratulated Councillor Morris on his maiden speech on behalf of the council.

44.6         Councillor Bennett stated that she also wished to thank fellow members of the Scrutiny Panel, especially ex-councillor Bowden who had been an excellent Chair.  She also noted that the first monitoring report was due to be considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

44.7         The Mayor stated that the report had been referred for information and therefore moved that it be noted.

44.8         RESOLVED: That the report be noted.