Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors:

Emma Baker

Helen Crawford

James Denniston

Nick Robins

Penny Robins

Vanessa Smith

Peter Stephens

Ian Stokes

The public open forum will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public.

This Council notes:

1.    Small HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) of 3-4 occupants can be established without planning permission under permitted development rights, with no requirement for community consultation.

2.    In December 2025 across SKDC, Serco managed 45 properties for resettlement purposes. providing 194 bedspaces.

3.    By March 2026 that figure had risen to 69 HMOs providing 301 bedspaces. Of those 69 properties, only 3 are occupied by families.

4.    The rate of increase of 55%, 107 new bedspaces in four months, represents a significant and accelerating pressure on South Kesteven’s housing stock and communities.

5.    Many councils have successfully introduced HMO regulation through Article 4 Directions in areas of intensive HMO properties.

6.    Current permitted development rights mean residents have no right to be consulted on, or informed of, HMO conversions in their street.

This Council believes:

1.    The current rate of HMO growth in Grantham is unsustainable and demands immediate action.

2.    Residents have a right to be consulted on developments that affect the character of their neighbourhood.

3.    An Article 4 Direction is a well-established, proportionate planning tool that gives communities a proper voice while ensuring legitimate housing needs continue to be met.

4.    Our Council has blocked this measure on two separate occasions, in October and November 2025, which has allowed the situation to worsen. This Council cannot allow further delay.

This Council resolves:

1.    To instruct officers to gather evidence to establish whether there are sufficient grounds to justify the implementation of an immediate Article 4 Direction to restrict the permitted development rights to change the use of dwellinghouses (use class C3) to small HMO’s (use class C4) pursuant to the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 in respect of a 2km radius centred from the Grantham Market Cross and to bring a report setting out their recommendations to the ordinary meeting of Full Council due to be held in September 2026 (or an earlier ordinary meeting of Full Council, if feasible), for debate and decision.

Councillor Sue Woolley proposed the following motion:

This Council notes:

1.    Small HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) of 3-4 occupants can be established without planning permission under permitted development rights, with no requirement for community consultation.

2.    In December 2025 across SKDC, Serco managed 45 properties for resettlement purposes. providing 194 bedspaces.

3.    By March 2026 that figure had risen to 69 HMOs providing 301 bedspaces. Of those 69 properties, only 3 are occupied by families.

4.    The rate of increase of 55%, 107 new bedspaces in four months, represents a significant and accelerating pressure on South Kesteven’s housing stock and communities. 5. Many councils have successfully introduced HMO regulation through Article 4 Directions in areas of intensive HMO properties. 6. Current permitted development rights mean residents have no right to be consulted on, or informed of, HMO conversions in their street.

This Council believes:

1.    The current rate of HMO growth in Grantham is unsustainable and demands immediate action.

2.    Residents have a right to be consulted on developments that affect the character of their neighbourhood.

3.    An Article 4 Direction is a well-established, proportionate planning tool that gives communities a proper voice while ensuring legitimate housing needs continue to be met.

4.    Our Council has blocked this measure on two separate occasions, in October and November 2025, which has allowed the situation to worsen. This Council cannot allow further delay.

This Council resolves:

1.    To instruct officers to gather evidence to establish whether there are sufficient grounds to justify the implementation of an immediate Article 4 Direction to restrict the permitted development rights to change the use of dwellinghouses (use class C3) to small HMO’s (use class C4) pursuant to the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 in respect of a 2km radius centred from the Grantham Market Cross and to bring a report setting out their recommendations to the ordinary meeting of Full Council due to be held in September 2026 (or an earlier ordinary meeting of Full Council, if feasible), for debate and decision.

In introducing the motion, Councillor Woolley proposed to alter the wording with the consent of Council. However, not all present consented to alter the motion, therefore discussion returned the motion on notice.

The following points were raised during the proposal of the motion:

·       Residents of Grantham should be able to give their thoughts on planning applications for small HMOs.

·       The motion was raised as a ‘quality of life issue’ rather than a ‘political issue’. This issue affected families, elderly residents and future generations alike.

·       Grantham and South Kesteven had proud identities, and were places where people knew their neighbours. Many residents had expressed concerns about HMOs, due to the perceived pressures they created; these pressures included parking and community cohesion.

·       When family homes were converted into HMOs, entire streets could change overnight. This motion wished to give power back to the people in the affected area, as they deserved the right to comment on significant changes proposed in their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.

The meeting closed at 1:29 p.m.