Following a High Court ruling, Thanet District Council has won its right to introduce a selective licensing scheme in two of the district’s wards – Margate Central and Cliftonville West.
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The proposal to introduce a selective licensing scheme was agreed by the council at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on 12 January 2011, in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour and low housing demand, and improve the management of privately rented properties.
The move followed an extensive consultation exercise by the council’s Housing Regeneration team in 2010, which generated more than 700 responses.
But last year the Southern Landlords Association approached the High Court and requested a judicial review, on the grounds that the council had failed the legal tests by basing its decision on factual inaccuracies, irrelevant considerations and unsubstantiated assertions.
The High Court hearing took place over 30 and 31 October 2012, with Mr Justice Cranston handing down his Approved Judgement today (Tuesday13 November).
He concluded that the Southern Landlords Association had ‘failed to establish any error of law in the council’s assessment and designation of its Margate Central and Cliftonville West wards as a selective licensing area’.
The decision represents a significant victory for the council, being the first local authority in Kent to use this power to help regenerate an area.
The council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr David Green, said: “The High Court decision is wonderful news for the people of Thanet, and I’m delighted with the ruling.
“The council is dedicated to the regeneration of Margate Central and Cliftonville West, and the selective licensing scheme represents a powerful legislative tool to help us do this. Throughout the process of High Court judgment, we’ve always been on the side of local people, and I’m very pleased that our stance has been vindicated.”
