Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 12, 2025

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to secure additional funding to appoint to a temporary position within the Planning Policy Team, to lead the development of an Article 4 direction in relation to HMOs.  This position is proposed to be a stand-alone project bespoke position reporting to the Planning Implementation Manager.

Content: RESOLVED that the Cabinet recommended to Council that additional funding of £150,000 be provided towards a temporary position and associated activities to seek to bring forward an Article 4 in respect of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).   Reasons for decision The temporary position, within the Planning Policy Team, would lead the development of an Article 4 declaration in relation to HMOs. There was currently no budget assigned to the Planning Team to facilitate this role but it was anticipated that an Article 4 could be progressed within a cost in the region of £150,000.   Alternative Options Considered 1.     The alternative option available was to not fund this position. This would result in either the Article 4 option not being investigated or it being brought forward via alternative means. Given the public commitment, both at officer and political level, to take this matter forward it was not recommended that this role was not filled. 2.     If additional funding was not supported, but there remained a clear mandate to proceed with this work, consideration would need to be given as to where the resource would come from. It was anticipated that the project, to ensure any outcome was robust and susceptible from challenge, would take in excess of one year. This timescale conflicted with the work being undertaken in the Planning Policy team to deliver both the Local Plan and Development Frameworks in a timely manner, both of which were corporate priorities. The existing planning policy team is ‘thin’ and a deviation of resource from these priorities to an Article 4 Direction project was likely to cause delays in the delivery of these key priorities.