Issue - meetings

1.1.        To approve the amended garage licence agreement as set out at Appendix 1.

1.2.        To approve that all existing garage licences be varied as above by service of an appropriate Notice, ensuring consistency between existing and new licences.

1.3.        To amend the current garage charging policy (see Appendix 2) to:

1.3.1.   Apply the same net charge to all new private resident licencees as is applied to Council tenants and leaseholders, and their household members. New private garage licences will attract VAT at 20% on this net charge. This change will not apply to existing private residents renting a garage from us.

1.3.2.   Offer all LBHF blue badge holders irrespective of tenure, a 25% discount on the garage charge upon application.

1.3.3.   Offer all LBHF residents in receipt of a state pension irrespective of tenure, a 10% discount on the garage charge upon application.

1.3.4.   Where an LBHF has a Blue Badge and in receipt of state pension, the larger of the 2 discounts will be applied (ie 25% for the Blue Badge).

1.3.5.   Agree a fairer charging policy for double garages, introducing a 25% ‘shared amenity’ discount per licencee where a garage is shared with another licence holder, and to increase charges for new licencees to the equivalent to 2 garages where the new licencee wants exclusive use of a double garage. The proposed reduction will apply to current eligible licencees. The proposed increase will not be applied to existing sole licencees of double garages.

1.3.6.   Promote affordability and take up, reducing the requirement to pay 4 months in advance to 2 months in advance at sign up for Council tenants and leaseholders, and their household members, and then to stay at least 1 month in advance. This will apply to all licences let after September 2013, subject to the provisions in 5.3.

1.4.        To note that the change at 2.3.6 will not apply to private residents (4 months in advance payment at sign up, with the requirement to stay at least 3 months in advance will continue), nor to Council tenants and leaseholders with licences pre September 2013 (1 month requirement will continue).

1.5.        To give delegated authority for the Cabinet Member for Housing to agree alternative uses for existing garage sites where there is persistent low demand and these have been deemed unsuitable for hidden homes.