Agenda item

Committee is asked to:

1.    Note the contents of the report; and

2.    To decide whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction made on 05 March 2025 in respect of the Ashford Common, Ashford East, Ashford Town, Halliford and Sunbury West, Laleham and Shepperton Green, Riverside and Laleham, Shepperton Town, Staines South, Sunbury Common and Sunbury East Wards, having regard to the representations made.

The Committee considered a report that sought a decision to confirm the Article 4 Direction made on 05 March 2025 in respect of the Ashford Common, Ashford East, Ashford Town, Halliford and Sunbury West, Laleham and Shepperton Green, Riverside and Laleham, Shepperton Town, Staines South, Sunbury Common and Sunbury East Wards, having regard to the representations made.

Debate:

During the debate the following key issues were raised:

1.    Houses of Multiple Occupation are one of the biggest issues currently in the Borough

2.    The Committee could approve an immediate Article 4 but the Council currently did not have enough evidence to present as to why this should be applied

3.    Any Houses of Multiple Occupation over 6 residents would still require planning permission

4.    If the Committee approved an immediate Article 4 it would likely be called in by the Secretary of State as the current evidence does not show that this is needed.

5.    The preferable option would be to agree a non-immediate Article 4 and then in March 2026 the Council could request a Borough wide Article 4.

6.    The making of an immediate Article 4 could result in the Council having to pay out significant compensation.

The Committee resolved to agree to confirm the non-immediate Article 4 Direction.