Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Neighbourhood is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the adoption of a fit and proper person test and Mobile Homes Fees Policy for 2021-2024 be approved.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods outlining the revised Mobile Homes Fees Policy 2021-2024.

Councillor Inglis referred to the Council’s Mobile Homes Policy, which had been approved in 2017, and renewed in 2020, and advised that significant statutory changes had been introduced to help strengthen the current regulatory framework to ensure the suitability of persons managing ‘relevant protected sites’ and those regulations would come into force in July 2021.  Cabinet noted that ‘relevant protected sites’ were mobile home sites that had residential occupation all year round and there were seven sites in Rushcliffe.  Councillor Inglis confirmed that the changes were being introduced to improve standards of site management for residents by ensuring that the person responsible for managing the site was a fit and proper person of good character.  Details of the updated Policy, which set out the framework for the operation of the test and the processes that local authorities would use were highlighted in the report, and it was noted that this was a statutory Policy.  Cabinet was advised that the Council could recover licensing costs by charges to the customer and no additional staffing would be required.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan reiterated that it was a statutory requirement to adopt the new regulations, and the importance of ensuring that a site must be managed by a fit and proper person, together with the introduction of further safeguards for residents was considered long overdue.

Councillor Edyvean reiterated previous comments and stated that he was delighted that the new regulations were being adopted. 

It was RESOLVED that the adoption of a fit and proper person test and Mobile Homes Fees Policy for 2021-2024 be approved.