The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report to seek approval for the cessation of domestic waste collections at premises which are registered as self-catering and holiday let accommodation for business rates.

Cabinet is recommended to resolve to:

1.      Cease providing a domestic waste collection service at premises which are registered as self-catering and holiday let accommodation for business rates; and

2.      Continue to use business rate data to prioritise investigations by the Planning Enforcement service into the unauthorised change of use from residential accommodation to self-catering and holiday let accommodation.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) had submitted a report which sought approval for the cessation of domestic waste collections at premises which were registered as self-catering and holiday let accommodation for business rates.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, explained that the proposal sought to control the loss of residential properties which, instead of being available for much needed use by permanent residents of the city, had been converted to short term let businesses.  The Council had for some time been calling for greater powers for councils to be able to regulate and control the trade of short term lets, and would be reiterating this as part of a forthcoming government consultation.  In the meantime, it was committed to using powers which were already available, including planning enforcement, and would continue to be proactive in prioritising investigations by the Planning Enforcement service into the unauthorised change of use from residential accommodation into self-catering and holiday let accommodation.

The proposal before Cabinet would enable a ‘loophole’ to be closed whereby short term let businesses which were currently paying business rates and not council tax (and which were often very profitable) were receiving free collection of their waste by Oxford Direct Services.  This was considered to be unfair to both other businesses (which were required to pay for commercial waste collection) and residents (who were required to for waste collection through their council tax).

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Cease providing a domestic waste collection service at premises which are registered as self-catering and holiday let accommodation for business rates; and

2.      Continue to use business rates data to prioritise investigations by the Planning Enforcement Service into the unauthorised change of use from residential accommodation to self-catering and holiday let accommodation.