Notice of Motion

PaRTY HOUSES” – SHORT-TERM LETS

GREEN GROUP AMENDMENT

That the motion be amended to insert a new recommendations as shown in bold italics.

(1) This council notes with concern the ongoing issues raised by residents in neighbouring properties to ‘party houses’, many relating to alcohol abuse, noise disturbance, littering and vandalism. Whilst the vast majority of visitors to our city enjoy themselves without these issues and are very welcome here, we hear residents’ concerns and wish to build on previous work conducted by the council in order to take action against the exceptions.

(2) This council recognises that it currently does not possess the powers to intervene and regulate these properties, and that this is a problem faced by many local authorities across the country.

(3) This council deems it reasonable to request sufficient delegated powers to regulate the commercial lets market in the interests of residents, particularly in tourist destination authorities like Brighton & Hove.

Therefore, this council:

(1) Asks the Chief Executive:

(a) to write to AirBnB welcoming the consultation on registration, stipulating that the council will participate; and to request AirBnB and other short-term holiday let platforms to consider creating a shareable register of reliable hosts;

(b) to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to request:

(i) the new government revisit the Planning Use Classes Order, with the potential introduction of a ‘Holiday Lettings’ Class;

(ii) the delegation of additional powers to local authorities, in order to allow the regulation of commercial short-term holiday lets, often known locally as ‘party houses’; and

(2) Requests that the report on ‘party houses’ currently being prepared for the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee additionally explores recent planning caselaw from Richmond, Kensington and Chelsea and Cambridge seeking to establish that a material change of use had occurred in party houses, and whether there is a potential to establish this in B&H.

Proposed by: Councillor Osborne                     Seconded by: Councillor Mac Cafferty

Supporting Information:

This council is acutely aware of the impact of so-called party houses, which affect tourist destinations and seaside towns and cities in particular.

This council notes previous attempts to address this issue, including cross-party work and a motion calling upon the government to pass national legislation and take action, and regrets that no such action was taken. We note that local authorities currently do not have the ability or the powers to adequately address this issue.

This council now asks for delegated powers so that we can take action where necessary and as appropriate. We need regulatory powers to stand up for our residents and ensure holiday lets are conducted in a responsible way.

Motion if carried to read:

(1) This council notes with concern the ongoing issues raised by residents in neighbouring properties to ‘party houses’, many relating to alcohol abuse, noise disturbance, littering and vandalism. Whilst the vast majority of visitors to our city enjoy themselves without these issues and are very welcome here, we hear residents’ concerns and wish to build on previous work conducted by the council in order to take action against the exceptions.

(2) This council recognises that it currently does not possess the powers to intervene and regulate these properties, and that this is a problem faced by many local authorities across the country.

(3) This council deems it reasonable to request sufficient delegated powers to regulate the commercial lets market in the interests of residents, particularly in tourist destination authorities like Brighton & Hove.

Therefore, this council:

(1) Asks the Chief Executive:

(a) to write to AirBnB welcoming the consultation on registration, stipulating that the council will participate; and to request AirBnB and other short-term holiday let platforms to consider creating a shareable register of reliable hosts;

(b) to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to request:

(i) the new government revisit the Planning Use Classes Order, with the potential introduction of a ‘Holiday Lettings’ Class;

(ii) the delegation of additional powers to local authorities, in order to allow the regulation of commercial short-term holiday lets, often known locally as ‘party houses’; and

(2) Requests that the report on ‘party houses’ currently being prepared for the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee additionally explores recent planning caselaw from Richmond, Kensington and Chelsea and Cambridge seeking to establish that a material change of use had occurred in party houses, and whether there is a potential to establish this in B&H.