Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report on the adoption of the new revision to the model standards for mobile home sites that had been recommended by the Government.  The report also sought Member support for officers to take appropriate enforcement action against site owners where non conformity against existing standards existed, and for officers to raise awareness with owners on the new standards and to allow a reasonable period of notice to conform with the newly introduced changes.

In relation to the recommendation that site owners be given 12 months within which to confirm to the new elements of the Model Standards prior to enforcement action, it was felt that such discretion could not be afforded in the case of Fire Risk Assessments and that this element should be complied with immediately.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the newly revised Model Standards for Permanent Residential Homes Sites, as summarised at Section 4 of the report and detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for adoption;

(b)       that officers be permitted to take action in accordance with the Council’s Enforcement Policy against site owners who continue to be in breach of existing model standards upon expiry of the originally set 5 year period of notice, subject to an additional 6 months period of grace;

(c)        that officers be permitted to phase in new model conditions (following consultation) where the current site licence conditions are inadequate in serving its purpose and where legislation has been superseded; and

(d)       that site owners be given a period of 12 months to conform to the newly introduced elements of the Model Standards before appropriate enforcement action is implemented, with the exception of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which must be completed with immediate effect.