Following the correspondence I posted in my last update, I have received a reply from John Hewitt, Chief Executive of Durham County Council, a copy of which is attached below.

Durham County Council has stated the information provided by The Mears Group is factually incorrect. However, Mr Hewitt has confirmed that Durham County Council has the opportunity to comment on the suitability or otherwise of a property.

“Mears can take these comments into account in making decisions but there is no approval process that involves the Council, and the Council has no right of veto”

This runs counter to the information provided to me by The Mears Group which stated:

“There is a protocol in place whereby each property Mears identifies is sent to the Local Authority for checking as a reasonable location and approval. Consultation with the Police happens at this time too. The property is only progressed if there is appropriate feedback and approval.”

I am seeking clarification from The Mears Group, and a copy of the letter I have sent to them is below.

I have once again asked that Durham County Council make a public statement in opposition to HMOs in my constituency and for areas in County Durham where such accommodation is not a feature of the local housing market.

This is an action Durham County Council can take, as indicated by Mr Hewitt, they are given the opportunity by The Mears Group to comment.

No Statement

To date, I have not seen any comments by Durham County Council opposing the development of HMOs by The Mears Group.

However, I have received a statement by Durham County Council in support of HMOs, which I have highlighted in correspondence from the Head of Planning and Housing, it reads:

“The conversion of the dwellinghouse into a 5-bed roomed HMO does not require planning permission and therefore there are no regulatory controls available to the Council to prevent this happening. I am aware that this is not the news that your constituents will want to hear but, as I am sure you will appreciate, HMO accommodation does provide a recognised and entirely legitimate form of housing for many, and it would not be appropriate to seek to resist such forms of accommodation in principal without good reason to do so.”

Misleading

I understand and respect Mr Hewitt’s clear anger at the suggestion officers are misleading elected councillors. I set out my reasoning for this view in my response.

The claim remains.

I am unaware at any point, where elected members addressing public meetings have stated that Durham County Council had the opportunity to comment on properties proposed by The Mears Group.

I understand the claim continues to be made that Durham County Council has no influence or legal power to dictate who occupies an HMO that it does not own.

From the information from the Mears Group, and Mr Hewitt, this statement is simply not true.

At the very least, Mr Hewitt confirmed the Council has the opportunity to comment to Mears. That is influence.

I want Durham County Council to use this influence by making a public statement, directed to The Mears Group and The Home Office, that they do not support the development of HMOs in County Durham where they are not a feature of the local housing market.

I am no clearer as to whether Cllr McDonnell was aware that Durham County Council could offer comments on properties highlighted to the Council by The Mears Group.

If she was, I would have expected her to highlight the objections the Council has made to the Mears Group, when addressing public meetings.

If she was not aware, then I ask the question why this information has not been shared with her as a ward and Cabinet Member.

Moving Forward

I have put in the public domain the information I have received, as I know on contentious issues, rumours can quickly take hold.

It also helps to expose where conflicts lie, whether between myself and the Council, the Council and the Mears Group, and ultimately with a Government policy being imposed on our communities.

By publishing the information, it allows me to comment, but also for you to make up your own mind of the situation.

I hope The Mears Group will recognise the public concern, and turn their procurement pause in Peterlee, into a permanent promise not to utilise HMOs in the Easington constituency.

In the absence of such a commitment, I want to see a public statement from Durham County Council to The Mears Group and The Home Office that the local authority is opposed to the conversion of family homes into HMOs. This is an action Durham County Council could take without any formal process, however, as confirmed by Mr Hewitt, Mears do seek comments about the suitability of properties.

A statement from Durham County Council will add weight for MPs to lobby The Home Office and the wider Government for greater powers to control and manage the local housing market. It would also strengthen our case against the imposition of HMOs by government contractors.

However, without the support of Durham County Council, it is very easy for the Government Minister to dismiss concerns.