Behaviour crackdown

residents of Hathershaw will be invited to have their say on new proposals designed to crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

The council is exploring the possibility of issuing individual licences for landlords.

A consultation exercise has been launched after claims a large proportion of the trouble may be caused by private sector tenants in rented accommodation and a lack of regulation of their private landlords.

The council, using powers under the Housing Act 2004, is now looking to see if a Selective Licensing Scheme could help tackle trouble causers.

A formal consultation period, which lasts until February 17, has now been launched to see if citizens living in 22 streets would support the initiative.

If implemented, every private rented property in the area would have to have a licence.

The streets involved are: Avon Street, Belgrave Road, Boston Street, Broadway Street, Carthage Street, Charleston Street, Columbia Street, Crete Street, Dartmouth Close, Estate Street South, Falmouth Street, Goddard Street, Honeywell Lane, Meldrum Street, Montreal Street, Plymouth Street, Pool Street, Ralstone Avenue, Royle Close, St Albans Close, Villa Road and Wallace Street.

Various conditions can then be applied to the licences which would enable the council to easily challenge standards and management practices of properties and tenants.