News From Millmead

Published on: 13 Jan, 2020
Updated on: 13 Jan, 2020

A round-up of news from Guildford Borough Council

Rogue landlords face fines up to £30k under new powers

By Rebecca Curley, Local Democracy Reporter

Rogue landlords who fail to improve the state of rented homes in Guildford could face fines of up to £30,000 under new powers adopted by Guildford Borough Council officers.

The financial penalties will be issued to owners who rent out rooms and houses that are unsafe or not compliant with housing standards.

The enforcement will be an alternative to prosecution which can be costly and delayed and will allow regulatory officers at the council to monitor the private-rented market in the borough.

Data from the 2011 Census shows there were 9,000 properties in the private rented sector in Guildford.

Since 2018 more than 600 properties have been classed as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the borough with five or more people living in them.

Although they provide cheaper rates of accommodation for young professionals, single people and students, HMOs have been found to have some of the worst housing conditions, councillors were told.

Any landlord renting their house out as an HMO to five or more tenants from two or more households must obtain a license from the council.

But there are still a number of unlicensed properties being rented out in the borough, councillors were told at GBC’s Executive meeting on Tuesday, January 7.

The civil penalty notices (CPN) charging ranges in fines from £1,000 to £30,000 depending on the severity and circumstances around the offence.

Council installs water bottle refilling station

Pictured at the new water bottle ‘refilling station’ from left: GBC’s waste policy and development manager; Liz Mockeridge, the leader of the council, Cllr Caroline Reeves; GBC’s surveying services manager, Jonathan Richards; and Experience Guildford town ranger, Justin Pearce.

As part of the council’s commitment to eliminate single-use plastic containers it has installed a water bottle ‘refilling station’ outside the public toilets at the junction of Ward Street and North Street opposite Guildford Library.

Jointly funded by the council and Surrey Environmental Partnership, it is part of the Refill App network, a smart phone app linked to more than 20,000 refill stations across the UK providing free fresh drinking water.

A meter will gauge usage of the station, which will be subject to strict water quality standards.

The council states that further refill stations are planned for Stoke Park and Tunsgate, as it “continues its drive towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and support of the local Plastic Free Guildford initiative”.

This story is based on a GBC press release

Cash boost for Guildford’s computer games industry

By Rebecca Curley, Local Democracy Reporter

It is already known as the epicentre of the UK games industry and now digital designers are being given the chance to create even more video games from Guildford.

Companies behind games such as FIFA and Sims as well as World of Tanks have used Guildford as their base for years.

And now a £40,000 loan and grant from the council is set to help smaller companies and freelance designers create even more.

The money was approved by Guildford Borough Council’s Executive on Tuesday, January 7 and paves the way for the multi-million pound gaming industry in the town to produce more top titles.

The digital games co-working space will be in an office block in Walnut Tree Close and allow designers who are currently home-based the chance to work in an office environment and hot desk with fellow gamers.

There are around 70 studios in the borough employing around 1,500 people with more than 300 games being published from the town.

The space in Walnut Tree Close will be owned and run by the owners of Rocketdesk Co-working space based at Surrey Research Park and will be called Rocketdesk Guildford Riverside.

The office space in Riverside Business Park will be shared with creative tech company Figment Productions and will have room for 50 desks as well as meeting rooms, a communal kitchen and a lounge.

Funding has also been put forward by Enterprise M3 LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership).

GBC will give £10,000 as a grant and a further deferred loan of £30,000.

Nominations invited for Mayor’s Award for Services to the Community

Do you know anyone in your community who goes out of their way to improve the lives of others?

The Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community aims to recognise and encourage positive community working in the borough of Guildford, and celebrates residents and groups who make a real difference by volunteering or foster good relationships.

Award recipients are nominated by the local community. To make a nomination, complete the online form at www.guildford.gov.uk/mayorsawardforservicetothecommunity

Alternatively, you can email CivicSecretary@guildford.gov.uk or call 01483 444031 for a form.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, February 3. The mayor will present the awards at an informal ceremony on Saturday, April 18.

This story is based on a GBC press release

Share This Post