Amendments proposed to the Homes Bill - continued	House of Commons
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Duty of local a housing authority to formulate a housing and homelessness strategy

   

Mr Don Foster
Mr Tom Brake

NC17

To move the following Clause:—

    '.—(1) A local housing authority ("the authority") may from time to time—

(a) carry out a housing and homelessness review for their district; and

(b) formulate and publish a housing and homelessness strategy based on that review.

    (2) The social services authority for the district of the authority (where that is a different local authority) shall give such assistance in connection with the exercise of power under subsection (1) as the authority may reasonably require. The registered social landlords holding accommodation in the district of the authority shall give such assistance in connection with the exercise of power under subsection (1) as the authority may reasonably require.

    (3) The authority shall exercise that power so as to ensure that the first housing and homelessness strategy for their district is published within the period of twelve months beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.

    (4) The authority shall exercise that power so as to ensure that a new housing and homelessness strategy for their district is published within the period of five years beginning with the day on which their last housing and homelessness strategy was published.

    (5) A local housing authority shall take their housing and homelessness strategy into account in the exercise of their functions.

    (6) A social services authority shall take the housing and homelessness strategy for the district of a local housing authority into account in the exercise of their functions in relation to that district. The registered social landlords holding accommodation in the district of the authority shall take the housing and homelessness strategy into account in the exercise of their functions in relation to that district.

    (7) Nothing in subsection (5) or (6) affects any duty or requirement arising apart from this section.'.

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New form of short term tenure for councils (short social tenancy)

   

Mr Archie Norman
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr David Curry
Mr Tim Loughton
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

NC18

To move the following Clause:—

    '. In Schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1985 (tenancies which are not secure tenancies), after paragraph 4 there is inserted—

    "4A. A tenancy is not a secure tenancy provided that—

    (i) the local housing authority concerned has notified the tenant that the property is not being allocated as a secure tenancy; and

    (ii) the local housing authority concerned has notified the tenant of the reason or reasons why the property is not being allocated as a secure tenancy; and

    (iii) the dwelling has either been designated as unsuitable for a secure tenancy in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State or the dwelling has been allocated in accordance with the provisions of a local letting scheme under section 167(2B) of the Housing Act 1996.".'.

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Rough sleepers

   

Mr Archie Norman
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Tim Loughton
Mr David Curry
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

NC19

To move the following Clause:—

    '—(1) The Rough Sleepers' Unit within the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions shall be disbanded.

    (2) The authority shall address rough sleeping in their district, as set out in sections 17 and 18.'.

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Licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation

   

Mr Archie Norman
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Tim Loughton
Mr David Curry
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

NC20

To move the following Clause:—

    '—(1) The authority shall put in place a licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation ("HMOs") in their district. This should:

(a) set published standards for fire and other health and safety risks;

(b) not duplicate or conflict with other regulatory regimes;

(c) keep any resultant burdens on business, and any addition to public expenditure to the minimum, whilst ensuring adequate protection to the public.

    (2) The authority shall exercise that power so as to ensure that the licensing scheme for HMOs in their district shall come into operation within the period of twelve months beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.

    (3) It shall be an offence to operate an HMO without a licence, once the licensing scheme for that district comes into effect.'.

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ORDER OF THE HOUSE (8TH JANUARY 2001)

    That the following provisions shall apply to the Homes Bill:

Standing Committee

    1. The Bill shall be committed to a Standing Committee.

    2. Proceedings in the Standing Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 1st February 2001.

    3. The Standing Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it shall meet.

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ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE (16TH JANUARY 2001)

              That—

    (1) during proceedings on the Homes Bill, the Standing Committee do meet on Tuesdays at half-past Ten o'clock and at half-past Four o'clock and on Thursdays at a quarter to Ten o'clock and at half-past Two o'clock.

    (2) 12 sittings shall be allotted to the consideration of the Bill by the Standing Committee;

    (3) the proceedings on the Bill shall be taken in the following order, namely, Clauses 1 to 9, Schedule 1, Clauses 10 to 15, new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part I, Clauses 16 to 29, Schedules 2 and 3, Clauses 30 to 34, remaining new Clauses and new Schedules;

    (4) the proceedings on the Bill shall be brought to a conclusion at the 12th sitting at Five o'clock.

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Prepared 30 Jan 2001