Decision details

To agree a Local Lettings Plan to cover first lets and all subsequent lets of all CBH managed properties within Waterloo Street, Cheltenham for an initial 12 month period, to be reviewed by CBC and CBH Officers on an annual basis following officer sign-off.

As a result of significant and long-standing anti-social behaviour (including drug dealing, violence and arson) linked with Organized Crime Groups (OCG’s) and their associates operating from Waterloo Street, Cheltenham, a Local Lettings Plan has been agreed between Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) to cover first lets and all subsequent lets of all CBH-managed properties on Waterloo Street over an initial 12 month period. To be clear, this Local Lettings Plan will therefore cover the following property numbers on Waterloo Street, Cheltenham: Property Numbers- 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 62.

The purpose of this Local Lettings Plan is to support multi-agency initiatives to increase tenancy sustainability and customer wellbeing, as well as reducing criminality and disrupting OCG activity within the Waterloo Street locality.

Please note this Local Lettings Plan will be reviewed by key officers from Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) on an annual basis following Officer Sign-Off to determine whether an extension to or amendment of the Local Lettings Plan is appropriate.

If, for any reason, the Local Lettings Plan is not functioning as intended, the Council will have the ability to review the Local Lettings Plan, in consultation with CBH Officers, prior to the annual review date(s).

An alternative option considered was not implementing a Local Lettings Plan

covering Waterloo Street.

However, owing to the long-standing and severe nature of the anti-social behaviour experienced by the local community caused directly by the operations of a local Organized Crime Gang (OCG) and their associates, it was felt that the safeguards offered by a Local Lettings Plan covering all CBH properties on Waterloo Street are essential to protect community stability within the locality and remove the influence of the OCG from this area, thereby allowing all residents an opportunity to thrive in a welcoming neighbourhood.