Latest news with #PaulWells
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council plans new licensing scheme for rented homes
A new licensing scheme covering 5,000 rented properties will improve housing conditions, councillors in a Norfolk town are being advised. Great Yarmouth Borough Council said a selective licensing scheme, if agreed at a meeting on 3 June, would cover the Nelson, Cobholm and Southtown, and Central and Northgate wards. It would replace a previous scheme that covered 1,500 properties, which private-sector landlords criticised as being costly and of little effect. Councillor Paul Wells, portfolio holder for licensing, said: '''We know some privately rented properties are in a poor condition and we are determined to try to improve standards.'' The council said it carried out a feasibility study which included data about demographics and the condition of rental accommodation in the borough. Officers said the initial scheme led to considerable improvements and helped the landlords understand their responsibilities and "what good property management looks like". If introduced, the scheme - which would include 60% of the borough's private-rented housing - would not be allowed to make a profit. Running costs would be covered by a proposed licence fee of £784 for landlords. Paul Cunningham, chairman of the Eastern Landlords Association said: "I have brought this to the attention of the MP to say this is a pointless exercise. "It is another way of Great Yarmouth Borough Council alienating landlords. Of all the local authorities I work with GYBC is the most difficult to deal with. They are anti-landlord and are the only council in Norfolk to look at selective licensing. "The cost will be passed on to tenants and therefore the rents will be increase and more and more landlords will sell. "There is already a lack of landlords across the area and country, and this will make housing asylum seekers look more attractive." Mr Wells added: ''Generally, we have responsible landlords, but not everyone has a home that is safe, warm and good quality. This scheme would mean landlords must comply with a number of licence conditions. "Bad housing has a detrimental impact on the lives of people and our residents deserve better where there are problems." He added: ''We already have some powers related to housing, but this scheme will allow us to more effectively deal with a range of issues that impact people. "We will be better able to tackle health hazards and overcrowding – which is a real problem for some of our residents. ''We would be able to systematically inspect properties to make sure things like gas and electric certification are up to date, rather than simply reacting to complaints as we currently do. ''Where necessary, we could refuse to issue a licence and hold people accountable.'' Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'I can't live in a home like this' New licensing scheme for private landlords City seeks views on HMO improvement scheme
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Privately rented property licenses will 'improve living standards'
A new licensing scheme covering 5,000 rented properties will improve housing conditions, councillors in a Norfolk town are being Yarmouth Borough Council said a selective licensing scheme, if agreed at a meeting on 3 June, would cover the Nelson, Cobholm and Southtown, and Central and Northgate would replace a previous scheme that covered 1,500 properties, which private-sector landlords criticised as being costly and of little Paul Wells, portfolio holder for licensing, said: '''We know some privately rented properties are in a poor condition and we are determined to try to improve standards.'' The council said it carried out a feasibility study which included data about demographics and the condition of rental accommodation in the said the initial scheme led to considerable improvements and helped the landlords understand their responsibilities and "what good property management looks like".If introduced, the scheme - which would include 60% of the borough's private-rented housing - would not be allowed to make a profit. Running costs would be covered by a proposed licence fee of £784 for landlords. Paul Cunningham, chairman of the Eastern Landlords Association said: "I have brought this to the attention of the MP to say this is a pointless exercise."It is another way of Great Yarmouth Borough Council alienating landlords. Of all the local authorities I work with GYBC is the most difficult to deal with. They are anti-landlord and are the only council in Norfolk to look at selective licensing."The cost will be passed on to tenants and therefore the rents will be increase and more and more landlords will sell."There is already a lack of landlords across the area and country, and this will make housing asylum seekers look more attractive." Mr Wells added: ''Generally, we have responsible landlords, but not everyone has a home that is safe, warm and good quality. This scheme would mean landlords must comply with a number of licence conditions."Bad housing has a detrimental impact on the lives of people and our residents deserve better where there are problems." He added: ''We already have some powers related to housing, but this scheme will allow us to more effectively deal with a range of issues that impact people. "We will be better able to tackle health hazards and overcrowding – which is a real problem for some of our residents.''We would be able to systematically inspect properties to make sure things like gas and electric certification are up to date, rather than simply reacting to complaints as we currently do.''Where necessary, we could refuse to issue a licence and hold people accountable.'' Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Economist
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Broken windows and pockmarked roads
Unprompted AND slightly sheepishly, Britain's local councillors confess surprisingly often to admire Rudy Giuliani. Paul Wells, a Conservative, plucks a beer can from an alleyway in Great Yarmouth, a seaside town, as he mentions the disgraced 1990s-era New York mayor. 'Whatever you think about Rudy Giuliani…the reality is that the 'broken windows' theory is still fundamentally true. Litter is magnetic, isn't it?' Alan Connett, a Liberal Democrat in Devon, recalls attending a lecture given by Mr Giuliani 20 years ago. 'If you deal with the small stuff, people see it and they notice: potholes, the physical realm in which people live, the tidiness of their community…[if not,] you allow people not to look after their own front door either.'
CBC
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Mark Carney's next challenge: minority rule
It's official: the Liberals have a minority government. They've got ambitious plans, and they've made big promises. But even though they got a substantial 44 per cent of the popular vote, they're now leading a country where 41 per cent of voters coalesced around their biggest opponent, the Conservatives. And they're still dealing with Donald Trump's trade war. So how will they make it work? Today, Paul Wells — a longtime political journalist who also publishes a Substack under his own name — joins us to talk about the Liberals' path forward. For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: Subscribe to Front Burner on your favourite podcast app. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council extends order tackling anti-social conduct
Police will have more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in a seaside town after councillors agreed to extend a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). At a Great Yarmouth Borough Council meeting on Thursday, councillors unanimously voted for a PSPO to remain in place for the next three years. The borough has three existing PSPOs, which help the council and police deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in the area such as drunk and disorderly conduct and dog control. Paul Wells, a Conservative councillor and portfolio holder for environment, sustainability, licensing and waste, said tackling anti-social behaviour was a "key priority". The new PSPO will begin on 1 April and will outlaw drinking alcohol in public, urinating in public, spitting and riding bikes or e-scooters on paths. It will replace the previous PSPOs for alcohol in the borough and will be reviewed annually. The orders were introduced nationally in 2014 and were first imposed in the seaside town in 2016. Mr Wells said the Conservative-led authority was listening to people's concerns in the community. He said: "We regularly receive complaints about the increase of highly visible street drinking and people feeling intimidated by a range of other anti-social behaviour. "This new Public Spaces Protection Order will enable council officers and the police to take swift action against offenders." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Shoppers welcome new anti-social behaviour powers Anti-social behaviour 'will not be tolerated' - MP Great Yarmouth Borough Council
