Agenda item - Licensing scheme for short term holiday lets and Airbnbs

Proposed by Councillor Williams on behalf of the Labour Group.

24.1    The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Williams on behalf of the Labour Group and formally seconded by Councillor Allcock.

24.2    Councillor Osborne moved an amendment on behalf of the Green Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Gibson.

24.3    Councillor Lewry spoke in favour of the amendment as in the last few years the matter had previously been investigated by the council and concluded on each occasion that the council had no power for licensing short term lets which was a national matter.

24.5    Councillor Williams confirmed that she did not accept the amendment.

24.6    The Mayor then put the amendment to the vote which was carried. The Conservative Group voted in favour.

24.7    The Mayor then put the following motion as amended to the vote:

           This committee notes:

·        The disruption, distress, and exacerbation to the housing supply crisis that the rise in short term holiday lettings such as AirBnB have inflicted on our local communities

·        That some short-term holiday lets have replaced long term rental accommodation, stifling supply of rented accommodation and in turn driving rents up and conditions down

·        The detrimental impact holiday lets have on local hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and our aim for a circular local economy that builds community wealth

This council also notes:

·        The council has previously reviewed options to regulate short term lets (1) (2), which confirmed that it has no powers to license short term lets

·        The government have recently assessed the impact of short term lets in England (3) and have launched a consultation on regulation in June 2022, which closes on 21st September. (4)

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1)       Request a report to come to next TECC Committee which provides updates on the report from March 20, including new legislation in Wales, changes in tax policy, and suggestions made by AirBnB themselves (5)

2)       Submit a response to the government’s call for evidence

3)       Request the Chief Executive write to the Housing Secretary, lobbying for powers to;

·        Designate a minimum percentage of rented housing to be reserved for long term lets, and place a cap on the number of holiday lets

·        Introduce a licensing scheme similar to that laid out by the Welsh Government, to not only limit the number of second homes and holiday lets, but to ensure fair taxation is extracted from them

·        Change planning laws to require landlords wishing to convert their property into a holiday let to have to apply for change of use to a new class use for holiday lets

24.8    The Mayor confirmed that the motion as amended had been carried. The Conservative Group voted in favour.