Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to consult on proposed changes to the existing tenancy agreement for all existing and future tenants.

Resolved:      That option 2 be agreed, to allow consultation on the changes already agreed to the Tenancy Agreement and the proposed introduction of flexible tenancy start dates, a 52 week rent collection year and the introduction of the requirement to obtain formal permission to keep pets.

Reason:         To allow a full consultation with all council tenants on the proposed changes to the tenancy agreement and for this to inform the final changes to be implemented from April 2016.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval to consult on proposed changes to the existing tenancy agreement for all existing and future tenants.

The Head of Housing Services explained that  the tenancy agreement had been reviewed in January 2015 however the amendments (the main one being the reduction in the number of times a tenancy could be succeeded)  had not been implemented at the time as the consultation period would have coincided with purdah due to the elections last May. A number of further changes were now proposed including the use of flexible tenancy start dates, a 52 week rent collection year and the introduction of the requirement for formal permission to keep pets. Officers advised that if agreed they would go out to consultation with tenants in January 2016 (and not December as stated at paragraph 6 of the report). After tenants views had been collated, the Executive Member would receive a further report in February detailing the proposed changes.

The Executive Member acknowledged that  the proposed change with regard to pets would not prevent a tenant from keeping a pet but would require them to write to the council to seek permission to keep one. He noted that this would mean that where tenancy problems occurred as a result of keeping a pet, the council would then be able to take the appropriate action.

Councillor Boyce, Shadow Executive Member, expressed her overall support for the proposed changes. With regard to keeping pets, she stated that she did not want anything to put people off keeping pets which evidence showed was beneficial to a person’s social and mental health, or for the changes to result in more unwanted pets. She asked that she could be involved in the consultation as well as animal welfare organisations and asked that consideration was  given to including a clause in the agreement for keeping a pet which required pets to be micro chipped and neutered if appropriate in order that unwanted litters did not end up in animal shelters.

The Executive Member noted the concerns expressed regarding animal welfare and asked officers to tighten the consultation to take this into account.

Resolved:      That option 2 be agreed, to allow consultation on the changes already agreed to the Tenancy Agreement and the proposed introduction of flexible tenancy start dates, a 52 week rent collection year and the introduction of the requirement to obtain formal permission to keep pets.

Reason:         To allow a full consultation with all council tenants on the proposed changes to the tenancy agreement and for this to inform the final changes to be implemented from April 2016.