Agenda

Executive Summary

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces major reforms to landlord and tenant law, significantly expanding the duties and enforcement responsibilities of local authorities.

To ensure North Norfolk District Council can lawfully implement these new powers from 1 May 2026, including enhanced investigatory powers, new tenancy rights, and extended civil penalty provisions, a new Housing Standards Enforcement Policy and the Civil Penalties Policy must be in place.

The policies will set out how the Council will apply these new statutory duties, including enforcing new offences, applying increased penalty thresholds, and ensuring consistent and transparent decision making.

Options considered

The only alternative is to continue with current policies, but this would be unlawful after 1 May 2026.

Consultation(s)

As these changes are in response to legislation, there is no requirement to hold a public consultation, and the law has now been enacted with an effective date of 1^st May 2026.

Recommendations

Cabinet is recommended to:

(a) Approve the contents of the new Housing Standards Enforcement Policy, attached as Appendix 1 and agree that this policy shall be implemented and take effect from the 1st of May 2026.

(b) Grant delegated authority to Assistant Director People Services, to make where necessary any minor amendments and updates to the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy required, to reflect any organisational or further legislative changes which take place following implementation.

(c) Approve the Civil Penalties Policy, attached as Appendix 2 and agree that this policy shall be implemented and take effect from the 1st of May 2026.

(d) Grant delegated authority to the Assistant Director for People Services and Assistant Director Environmental & Leisure Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to make where necessary any minor amendments and updates to the Civil Penalties Policy required, to reflect any organisational or further legislative changes which take place following implementation.

Reasons for recommendations

The adoption of these two new policies in place of the Council’s current policies is required to enable the Council to undertake its new duties under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 from 1^st May 2026.

Background papers

To assist local authorities in understanding their new rights and responsibilities under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 the Government has published a new collection of statutory and other related guidance for local authorities which can be found here: Renters' Rights Act: guidance for local authorities and councils - GOV.UK

Wards affected

All Wards

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Callum Ringer

Cllr. Jill Boyle

Contact Officer

Emily Capps and Trudi Grant

Executive Summary

North Norfolk District Council has negotiated a higher level of grant funding for 2026/27 in Round 4 of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF). This report sets out proposals to accept the grant offered (£1.336m) to help purchase a further nine units of Temporary Accommodation for homeless households.

Options considered

-        To accept the LAHF grant to help fund purchase of nine homes for use as temporary accommodation, with the Council providing the match funding and staffing resources to undertake the purchases and necessary repairs to the properties, by April 2027.

-        To not accept the LAHF grant funding offered

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services.

Officers in Housing Options, Estates and Property Services

Recommendations

It is recommended that Cabinet:

-      Agree to accept the £1.336m of Local Authority Housing Fund grant

-      Use the LAHF grant to part fund the purchase of nine further units of temporary accommodation, including any resources needed to support this

-      Give delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services, to agree the actual purchases of the properties (within the identified budget limits as may be agreed by Full Council).

Reasons for recommendations

To seek approval for the Council to accept the LAHF grant and use the grant to help acquire further homes to use as temporary accommodation

Background papers

Cabinet January 2026 - Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation

Overview and Scrutiny January 2025 - Analysis of the performance of the Council’s Temporary Accommodation properties 2024/25

Cabinet March 2025 - Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation

Cabinet October 2023 – Round 2 Local Authority Housing Fund

Cabinet June 2023 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit

Cabinet March 2023 – LAHF Round 1 Opportunity

Cabinet November 2022 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit

Wards affected

Districtwide

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Jill Boyle, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services

Contact Officer

Nicky Debbage, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Wards affected

Districtwide

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Jill Boyle, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services

Contact Officer

Nicky Debbage, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Executive Summary

This report seeks to update the Cabinet on the progress made to date on the delivery of the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub project.

Options considered

Not Applicable as the report is an update only.

Consultation(s)

Not applicable as the report is an update only.

Recommendations

That the Cabinet note the update on the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub project.

Reasons for recommendations

To keep the Cabinet updated on the progress of the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub project.

Background papers

Wards affected

Fakenham

Cabinet member(s)

Liz Withington, Portfolio holder for Community, Leisure & Outreach

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director for Service Delivery

Executive Summary

North Norfolk District Council submitted a bid under round 2 of the Governments Levelling Up programme which included the provision of a 3G pitch as part of the match funding required to meet the criteria for funding.  The bid was successful and works are progressing associated with the swimming pool extension and upgrades to the existing sports centre.

Officers have been working with the Football Foundation to prepare an application for funding towards the provision of the 3G pitch and have heard recently that the award has been approved.

This report sets out the options around accepting the Football Foundation grant funding and recommends acceptance of the grant award.

Options considered

• Accept the Football Foundation grant funding and proceed with the 3G pitch provision at Trap Lane Fakenham
• Reject the Football Foundation grant funding and proceed with the 3G pitch provision using the Councils own finances.

• Reject the Football Foundation grant funding and do not proceed with the 3G pitch provision.

Consultation(s)

• Football Foundation
• Everyone Active
• Fakenham Town Council
• Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Outreach.

Recommendations

• That Cabinet accept the Football Foundation grant funding and proceed with the provision of a 91m x 55m FIFA Quality 3G pitch at Trap Lane Fakenham.
• That Cabinet authorise Officers to sign the relevant agreements with the Football Foundation to allow delivery of the 3G pitch provision.

Reasons for recommendations

• The provision of the 3G pitch was an integral part of the bid submission for Levelling Up funding and formed part of the match funding to the grant amount awarded in 2023.

• The acceptance of the grant will enable the completion of the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub project as submitted Government and will meet the need identified in the Playing Pitch Strategy.

Background papers

None

Wards affected

Fakenham North

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Liz Withington

Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Outreach.

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director of Service Delivery

steve.hems@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Wards affected

Fakenham North

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Liz Withington

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director of Service Delivery

steve.hems@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Executive Summary

The Station Approach Public Toilets, Sheringham were transferred to North Norfolk Railway in 2015. As part of this transfer North Norfolk Railway redeveloped the toilets and agreed to maintain them as Public Toilets for period of 10 years. The period comes to an end on the 31^st March 2026.

North Norfolk Railway, recognising the importance of these toilets to the wider tourist offering in Sheringham have offered to continue their provision as public toilets but have asked for contribution to reflect their additional financial cost in doing so.

This paper set out the options available and recommends that the Council reaches a suitable agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain public access to the toilets.

Options considered

• To do nothing, in which case North Norfolk Railway will most likely remove the public access to the toilets and use them to serve users of the station only.
• To enter in an agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain the toilets as public access throughout the year for the opening times specified in the report.

Consultation(s)

• North Norfolk Railway
• Liz Withington

Recommendations

• That Cabinet resolve to enter into an agreement with North Norfolk Railway to retain public access to the Station Approach Toilets.
• That Cabinet provides a steer on the period in years that they wish the agreement to run for.
• That Cabinet authorises the Director of Service Delivery to negotiate with North Norfolk Railway on the exact terms of the agreement in order to secure the best value for money position possible.
• That Cabinet delegate to the to the Director of Service Delivery and the Director for Resources, in consultation to with the Portfolio Holder for IT, Environmental & Waste Services and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Estates & Property Services the ability to enter into the agreement to retain the Station Approach Toilets for public use.

Reasons for recommendations

To continue the provision of public access toilets in line with the areas of the Corporate Plan objectives relating to Investing in our Local Economy and Infrastructure and also A Strong, Responsible and Accountable Council.

Background papers

None

Wards affected

Sheringham North

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Callum Ringer

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director of Service Delivery

steve.hems@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:         

INVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY & INFRASTRUCTURE

• Continuing to promote North Norfolk’s diverse tourism and visitor offer

A STRONG, RESPONSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE COUNCIL

• Reviewing service delivery arrangements so as to realise efficiencies without compromising service standards and outcomes
• Exploring opportunities to work further with stakeholders and partner organisations.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

There is no direct budget provision made in respect of the Sheringham Station Approach Toilets however it is anticipated that savings associated with other public toilet provision within the Waste and Related Services Contract will cover a substantial part if not all of the costs of any agreement with North Norfolk Railway.

Council Policies & Strategies

Public Toilet Provision Strategy 2021

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 Yes

Has the public interest test been applied

This paper  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.