New powers over HMOs welcomed

Liberal Democrats in Bath are “over the moon” following the government’s announcement of new powers for Councils to control ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (HMOs). Councillor Shaun McGall and Don Foster MP have been campaigning on this issue for 10 years.

Today’s announcement shows that the government has finally bowed to national public pressure and has given local Councils the much-needed powers to control the spread of high concentrations of shared rented homes. This will allow Councils, such as ours, to tackle pockets of unsafe and substandard accommodation run by bad landlords. Liberal Democrats in the city headed by MP Don Foster had been calling on the Government to speed up action on the subject. Local MP Don Foster said:

I warmly welcome this announcement from the Minister. HMOs play an important role in providing affordable housing, but a dense population can have serious effects on the local community. It is great that the government has finally realised this and changed the law.

This is good for local residents giving control over unregulated profit driven changes to the community. Good for HMO tenants, as it will improve standards and get rid of bad landlords, by providing a mechanism for councils to set up local landlord licensing schemes.

The changes mean that landlords will need to apply for planning permission in order to establish a new HMO with a change of use, for example when the use of a property is altered from a family home to a shared house, with three or more tenants who are not related.

We would like to thank residents from across the city who responded to the Government consultation last year following our campaign.
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Lobbying the Goverment over local rail issues

All four local Councils have written to Lord Adonis regarding our joint concerns over the lack of clarity on the provision of sufficient rolling stock to cater for passengers using train services in the West of England. A copy of the letter was also sent to Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of First Great Western.

The full text of the letter can be seen below:
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Have your say on development plans at Bath Spa University

Bath Spa University has been considering its long term needs both in terms of academic and student residental accommodation.

The University has been working with the Duchy of Cornwall (their landlord), the Council and English Heritage to establish the scope for development of the campus at Newton Park. There now want to explore their initial ideas with the local community.

The University has announced it is to hold a public exhibition at Newton Park on the 5th and 6th February 2010. For those unable to attend the exhibition in person, all the information will be available on the Bath Spa University website www.bathspa.ac.uk from Friday 5 February. Please put this in your diary and once we know more details we shall add them to our website.

It is important local residents of Oldfield Park have their say about the need for the University (actually both universities) to build and house more students in Halls of Residents on their campus and take some of the pressure off the local housing in our community.

It’s not to late to nominate a business for the Chairman’s Business Awards 2009/10.

The Awards aim to recognise the achievements of those businesses who work alongside their local communities for a common cause with the aim of safeguarding the long-term viability of local life. The Awards contribute to the Council’s vision to make ‘Bath & North East Somerset an even better place to live, work and visit’. Every business nominated for an Award will be presented with a Certificate in recognition of their contribution to community life. The winners of the Award, one for profit making and one for non-profit making businesses, will be given £250 each towards a charity of their choice presented by the Chairman at the awards ceremony on the 24 March 2010.

Anyone can nominate if they think a local business deserves a nomination. Businesses can also nominate themselves.

The deadline for nominations is Friday 19th February 2010. Details of how to nominate and an application form can be found via the Charman’s page on the Council website>.

Initial budget announcement “merely surface dressing”

Initial budget announcements made by the Conservative-run B&NES Council are facing criticism from Liberal Democrat Councillors. Councillor David Dixon (Walcot), who shadows the Resources portfolio, commented:

These budget announcements are merely short term ‘surface dressing’ to mask the many cuts in this year’s budget and in future years. The Conservatives should be upfront about where the money is coming from. These extras are being paid for out of funds set aside for risks, which can now be reallocated, but this is one-off money and won’t be repeated in future years. Exceptional funds should be allocated to ‘invest-to-save’ projects to help soften the impacts of future pressures and to give the support the Council services need to reshape in light of the huge savings that will be needed in future years.

Reading the Conservatives’ budget statement you would think that Bath and North East Somerset Council was unique in facing cuts. Year on year, the Cabinet has complained about being ‘short-changed’: it’s about time they stopped blaming the Government and got on with the business of delivering the services our residents want. Every Council in the land is dealing with the adverse financial climate, but nearby Liberal Democrat-run Councils are looking at lower Council tax rises than B&NES: Portsmouth Council is looking to freeze Council tax this year and Bristol is looking at a 2% increase.
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Take your signs away!

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Many local residents are furious that a new forest of “To Let” signs has sprung up across Oldfield Park. Residents think it’s quite unnecessary to have so many To Let signs when the agents are mainly trying to attract students. Students will either be looking online for accommodation or using the accommodation lists the universities provide.

The signs are also upsetting for the people who live in the houses at the moment; some have told me that the signs single them out as a house in multiple occupation and are an advertisement to thieves. Cllr Will Sandry said,

I asked the police, and unfortunately the Oldfield crime data confirms that student houses are targeted in particular at this time of year, when the signs go up.

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Attempted break in on Stanley Road West

At approximately 11.52 on Saturday January 23rd, unknown person(s) have smashed a pain of glass to a front door of a residence in what is believed to have been an attempt to gain entry before being disturbed by the victim.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Police on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively you could contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Missed Friday Refuse and Recycling Collections

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The Council’s collections seem to be worse this week than last week.  Missed or partial collections have been reported all across the through Oldfield Park and the Moorfields Estate. The Council’s website is not very up to date with advice, so we have asked the Council for an urgent update. Will said,

We understand the Council’s teams are working flat out to sort the backlog we would just like some better information and more up to date advice.

The Council’s most recent update is here.

Letter from Graham Watson MEP – 22nd Jan 2010

Greetings,

Last week I reported on problems with the Commissioner-designate from Bulgaria. This week she stood down after it became clear the MEPs would not approve her. The Bulgarian government has since nominated a lady called Kristalina Georgieva, currently a Vice President of the World Bank. She will come before us next week for consideration for the development aid portfolio which was also proposed for the candidate we rejected. This means we will not vote the investiture of the new Commission until 9 February, two days before the 27 heads of state and government meet to discuss the EU’s economic situation.
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Bristol Airport Expansion decision should be called in – Foster

Bath MP Don Foster has written to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Denham, asking him to call-in the planning decision to expand Bristol International Airport. In his letter, Don says that,

the expansion of the airport would have significant effects beyond its immediate locality, and has generated a large amount of regional controversy.

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