Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To seek approval for the implementation of a Regulation 7 Direction to remove deemed consent for lettings boards in certain areas of the city following approval from the Secretary of State.

Decision

That the implementation of the Regulation 7 Direction to remove deemed consent for the display of lettings boards in the Monks Road area, West End area, Sincil Bank area, Union Road and Waterloo Street be approved, with a view to implementing a ban on lettings boards in these areas.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

In May 2017, work commenced on an application to the Secretary of State for a Direction under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007. This would remove deemed consent for lettings boards usually given under Class 3(A) of the regulations and would mean that express advertisement consent would be required for lettings boards in the specific areas covered by the Regulation 7.

The areas of concern for the City of Lincoln were the Monks Road area, West End area, Sincil Bank area, Union Road and Waterloo Street. These areas had been identified through enforcement complaints from residents and councillors, as well as those identified by officers of the Council.

Consultation on the proposed Regulation 7 Direction took place between 16 October and 30 November 2017. The Policy Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 January 2018 supported the proposal which was subsequently approved by the Executive on 26 February 2018.

The evidence report had been submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2018 and notice was received of approval of the Direction by the Secretary of State on 11 January 2019.

It was reported that lettings boards could be removed from these areas by 15 April 2019 and that this was not just a visual problem but that this also had an implication from a community cohesion perspective, particularly given that the feeling of transiency would be removed.

Members reported that implementation of a ban on lettings boards was welcomed by residents and that some estate agencies had already anticipated this and no longer erected their lettings boards on properties for let in the areas identified.