The Head of Regulatory Service and Community Safety has submitted a report to seek formal approval to enforce legislation applicable to:

a)    Domestic Private Rented Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs); and

b)    Commercial  Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES);

following the delegation of powers under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 and under the Energy Efficiency ( Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 from Oxfordshire County Council.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.         Accept the delegation of powers from Oxfordshire County Council to enable Oxford City Council  to carry out enforcement of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in the domestic private rented sector under The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012;

2.         Accept the delegation of powers from Oxfordshire County Council to Oxford City Council for the enforcement of the  Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in commercial  property The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015;

3.         Authorise the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety,  acting in consultation with the Head of Law & Governance and the Head of Financial Services, to enter into all necessary and appropriate contracts to implement the delivery of the enforcement work  on behalf of the Oxfordshire County Council; and

4.         Delegate authority to the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety to perform the enforcement duties of the Oxfordshire County Council as set out in the agency agreement and to take any steps necessary to perform those duties.

The Head of Regulatory Service and Community Safety had submitted a report to seek formal approval to enforce legislation applicable to:

a)    Domestic Private Rented Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs); and

b)    Commercial  Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

following the delegation of powers under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 and under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 from Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Housing, introduced the report. This report spoke to two of the Council’s priorities, the Climate Emergency and the importance of high quality housing. Driving up standards in the private rented sector was important and this proposal would contribute to that. The County Council had  been unable to enforce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) because of other service priorities.  She thanked officers for their work in bringing forward the delegation of enforcement of EPCs to the City Council.

Ian Wright, Head of Service for  Regulatory Services and Community Safety, said this proposal could act as a template for the delegation of responsibility for enforcement of EPCs in other District Council areas which the City Council could potentially undertake.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.Acceptthe delegation of powers from Oxfordshire County Council to enable Oxford City Council  to carry out enforcement of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in the domestic private rented sector under The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012;

2.Accept the delegation of powers from Oxfordshire County Council to Oxford City Council for the enforcement of the  Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in commercial  property The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015;

3.Authorise the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety,  acting in consultation with the Head of Law & Governance and the Head of Financial Services, to enter into all necessary and appropriate contracts to implement the delivery of the enforcement work  on behalf of the Oxfordshire County Council; and

4.Delegate authority to the Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety to perform the enforcement duties of the Oxfordshire County Council as set out in the agency agreement and to take any steps necessary to perform those duties.