Council publicity expenditure The Audit Commission may undertake a study on councils' spending on communicating with the public. In June 2009 the Digital Britain report (external link) invited the Audit Commission to undertake a specific inquiry into the prevalence of local authorities taking paid advertising to support local authority information sheets and the impact of this practice, and to make recommendations on best practice and if restraints should be placed on local authority activity in this field.
- Liz Ixer
Planning, like so much local democracy in this country, is knackered. Local council planning departments are so cash-strapped and overworked that they have no time for architectural expertise or proper, proactive consultation with us lot
- Liz Ixer
In another trial at Haringey Magistrates Court, a landlord was found guilty of failing to licence a HMO, contrary to Section 72(1) of the Housing Act 2004, Chuba Obi was convicted of the two offences in respect of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) at 29 Drayton Road, N17, after Haringey housing enforcement offers took action. He was fined a total of £10,858.70 which includes costs of £4,843.70. Obi had previously been fined for failing to comply with notices and had used the law to delay complying with orders. Cllr Nilgun Canver, said: “It is essential that landlords comply with the law because that is the only way we can protect tenants. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can be unsafe if they are not licensed we cannot be sure that even the basic standards are being met. “At Haringey Council we realise that HMOs are often the only form of accommodation that many vulnerable people can access and we must do what we can to protect them.
- Liz Ixer
But the Ombudsman praised a partnership between Haringey Council and private landlords. Its Accredited Letting Scheme (ALS) provided sustainable, long term housing options for homeless households as an alternative to temporary council accommodation, he said. The scheme covered tenants that had been ‘shunned by reputable landlords and letting Agents’ and insisted that they had access to fair dispute resolution if they needed to complain about the management of their homes. Participating private landlords are required to join the Ombudsman scheme. ‘I encourage other local authorities involved in similar private initiatives to consider the advantages of involving my service in tenants’ complaints against private landlords’, said Dr Biles
- Liz Ixer