In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, a member of the public resident within the Borough may ask a maximum of two questions relating to the business of the Council providing notice has been received by 10.00am two working days before the relevant meeting.

As Mrs Gearon-Simm and Mrs Smith were not present, the Mayor asked the questions on their behalf. 

Mrs Jan Gearon-Simm has submitted two questions:

1.    As responsible landlords, Brentwood Borough Council (BBC) will know how many and how habitable the properties they rent to Brentwood residents ae. When I was a private landlord from 2004 to 2016, it was my responsibility to ensure that my property was in good condition and habitable. However, the only privately owned properties, which are legally required to be registered with BBC are Housing of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and they are, of course, liable to a list of regulations. Does BBC know how many privately owned rental properties there are in Brentwood?

Cllr Dr Barrett responded as followed:

Brentwood’s Private Sector Housing Policy was last reviewed in 2011, in line with our responsibilities as a strategic housing authority. This policy does not establish a framework to register private rental properties beyond HMOs, nor mandate any data collection on their number.

However, in July of this year, I requested that the officers commence a review of this policy as soon as possible that would address this, and a new policy approach presented to the Housing, Health and Community Committee for adoption at the earliest possible opportunity. This will also consider the possibility of introducing selective licensing for private landlords, as allowed under the Housing Act 2004.

We are developing a dedicated online report form for private rented sector housing complaints, which can be established ahead of this policy review.

For final clarity on your question, according to 2021 Census data there are approximately 16% of households are part of the private rented sector in the Borough, and there had been a greater percentage increase in this type of household since the last census compared to the rest of England.

2.    Housing is a human need and “market forces” do not necessarily prevail in all areas of life. In order to encourage home ownership, there is a part rent/buy scheme. When tenants of council properties leave their home those properties remain in Council ownership. If those tenants, who have engaged in a part rent/buy contract, choose to leave their homes, they are given back the amount of money they have saved during their tenancy. Such council-owned properties can then be rented to other tenants. Will Brentwood Borough Council instigate the part rent/buy scheme for council properties?

Cllr Dr Barrett responded as followed:

The Council is currently considering all form of tenure in relation to its new build schemes including Shared Ownership, however each scheme and property tenure will be considered and decided based on the financial viability of the site.

However, any scheme is not legally able to operate in the way you described. The occupier can sell their shared ownership home at any time. If the occupier owns 100% of their home then they will be able to sell it on the open market. In usual circumstances if they do not own 100% of their home, they must tell the non-occupying co-owner that they want to sell their home, and this gives that body the opportunity to find a buyer for the residents share of the property. The co-owner has a nomination period (usually up to 12 weeks) to find a buyer. 

The co-owner may offer to buy back the occupiers share but only in exceptional circumstances, if they wish to and have the funds and are under no obligations to do so. If the co-owner does not find a buyer within the nomination period the occupier owner can sell their share, and their share alone, on the open market. This would make a social rent element in any shared ownership scheme very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain given this open market sale.

Mrs Smith had submitted two questions:

1.    If I understood him correctly Cllr Hossack denied that Brentwood Council Housing Department use fixed term tenancies when he responded to a previous public question of mine. Was that information correct please?

Cllr Dr Barrett responded as followed:

Noting that former Cllr Hossack does not have the opportunity to respond himself, I can state that he was mistaken to indicate that the Council Housing Department does not use fixed term tenancies, when in fact it does. This is made clear in the housing policies that have been in place and available online for several years. 

This approach is taken as it is required by Government via the Housing and Planning Act 2016, but I can confirm that we, in Brentwood, are committed to providing tenants with secure and well maintained homes that are suitable for their needs. 

In the current social housing environment where homes are in high demand, I recognise the combined importance of bringing down our council housing waiting list and offering security to existing tenants. Inherited policy is that flexible tenancies are issued only to new tenants and not those within sheltered accommodation, after the fixed term, which is made up of a 12 month introductory tenancy followed by a five year fixed term tenancy, the Council will expect that the majority of tenancies will be renewed unless there has been a significant change in circumstances. 

Looking ahead, the Housing, Health and Community committee will be looking at the practical necessities to add the option of a periodic secure tenancy - often referred to as a lifetime tenancy - at the end of this five year period as well, in line with the legislative limits we have at the current time.

2.    Is there a forum for people with HIDDEN disabilities (such as autism) & their parents /carers in Brentwood where the Council (as represented by officers and councillors) can meet local people & properly productively discuss services & local issues affecting this group of people? Who is the contact please, (and will they just ignore me & parent / carers like me?)

Cllr Davies responded as followed:

Whilst officers from Brentwood attend the Health and Wellbeing Board (partnership board) and the Brentwood and Basildon Alliance, the Council does not have the statutory responsibility for the provision of these services or establishing these forums. This would be Essex County Council (Social Services) or Health with the Integrated Care Board through the Brentwood and Basildon Alliance.  

There are a number forums and support services but I’m not aware of any in Brentwood specifically, these appear to be national forums:  

Austismforums.com; autism.org.uk; wrongplanet.net. 

The Brentwood centre has a gym session which is supported by with a trainer for those with Autism.  SNAP and the Walter Boyce Centre also over a lot of support locally.