The move would result in a further extension to the Shared Repairs service which will continue to respond to any emergency situations on a 24/7 basis. Proposals for an emergency call-out charge, facilitation service and trusted trader scheme are already in development but due to feedback from a public consultation last year, officers were tasked with developing proposals for re-establishing an enforcement service by the end of 2014.
The report, Former Property Conservation Service - establishment of a new service, is scheduled to be discussed at the City of Edinburgh Council meeting on Thursday 13 March.
The proposed five-stage approach is based on a series of clearly defined objectives and particular consideration of risk to the council. This begins with the existing shared repairs service and will incorporate additional advice and support for owners, and a review of the available legal options where essential repair work is required. The final stage of direct enforcement, with the council intervening and commissioning a repair on behalf of owners, will take place when other options have been fully explored.
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Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance Convener, explained: "We are acutely aware of the issues faced by the former Property Conservation Service and continue to make good progress towards closing these off.
"The replacement service has been successful but remains limited in scope. While the introduction of additional features, such as the trusted trader scheme, will undoubtedly provide welcome assistance to homeowners there is clear public demand for enforcement in the most difficult cases.
"We are aiming to balance the Council's commitment to protect the fabric of the city with the need to encourage owners to take responsibility for repairs to their own homes."
Deputy Convener, Councillor Bill Cook, added: "We have a responsibility to protect Edinburgh's historic built environment and the reintroduction of an enforcement service could go some way to achieving this – but not at any cost.
"It is crucial, particularly in the current climate, that the new service be self financing and we, as Councillors, will ensure that adequate checks and balances are in place at every stage. The risk to the council cannot be allowed to become disproportionate to the benefits that we believe the new service will bring."
Subject to the Council's decision, the implementation of the new service would take around six months and would become operational – on a phased basis – from the end of the year.
(JP/IT)
