At a council cabinet meeting on 6th July, Gedling borough council approved "phase 2" of their selective licence regime which extends licensing of privately rented properties to the areas of Colwick, Carlton Hill and Daybrook and Newstead Village. The phase 1 "pilot" selective licensing scheme was in the Netherfield area of the borough.

Licence fees are set at £700 for non accredited landlords whilst the fee is discounted to £585 for accredited landlords. Council documentation states that 345 (52%) of the estimated number of licensable properties are owned by non accredited landlords.

The council says that other alternatives to licensing were considered but discounted. For example, the council decided that accreditation did not mandate that a landlord/licence holder pass the "fit and proper person [to hold a licence] test" and had no mandatory obligation for a landlord/licence holder to abide by a set of licence conditions.

Amongst those in support of the phase 2 extension of licensing was the local police Inspector who said licensing enhanced 'partnership working between Nottinghamshire Police, Gedling Borough Council and private landlords " and that "The selective licensing scheme provides a unique way of tackling anti social behaviour, drug use and other crime types by providing a joined up approach where private landlords are encouraged and supported by [the council and the police] to effectively manage tenants that are causing problems within the locality."

The cabinet meeting can be accessed here.