Agenda item

Report number HSG134 of the Cabinet Member for Housing.     (Enclosure)

Decision

Cabinet approves the Mutual Exchange, Assignment and Succession Policies as appended to report number HSG134 and delegates responsibility for any further minor changes prior to publication to the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

1. Report number HSG134 of the Cabinet Member for Housing and appended draft policies
2. Recommendations of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the draft policies and the proposal to charge a fee for the administration of mutual exchanges (this aspect was not supported)
3. The equality analyses attached as appendix 4 to the report
4. Provisions within the Housing Act 1996
5. South Kesteven District Council’s Housing Allocations Policy

Other options considered and assessed

The original intention of the Mutual Exchange charge was to apply it to all applicants with the allowance of ‘exceptional reasons’ to waive it.

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In presenting report number HSG134, the Cabinet Member for Housing informed Members that the provisions covered by the three draft policies were already in use by the Council; the revised documents were designed to provide updated guidance and direction to SKDC staff and to clarify procedures for service users.

Members suggested that paragraph 4.8.3 of the draft Mutual Exchange Policy should specify the senior officer who could exercise a waiver in respect of applicants affected by extenuating circumstances; it was suggested that this could be the Housing Management Lead. The draft policy documents also indicated that they would be kept under review. Members felt that this should be set out more explicitly and suggested that the policies should be reviewed on an annual basis by the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the outcome of the review being fed back to the Cabinet. A minor amendment was also suggested in respect of paragraph 5.2 of the draft Succession Policies and Procedures with the removal of the words ‘Use and Occupation’, so that the revised sentence would read:

“Whilst a succession application is being considered and the occupant is still resident in the property, the Council will grant a licence to allow the Council to collect income from the property.”

Rather than amending the policies at the meeting, it was suggested that the wording of the recommendation be adjusted to delegate responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Housing to make any minor amendments prior to the publication of the policies.

Some discussion ensued on the administrative cost of dealing with an application for the mutual exchange of a property. Cabinet Members were advised that as part of its considerations the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered whether it would be appropriate to introduce a fee to cover these costs. The consensus of the Committee was that there were some circumstances where it would not be appropriate to charge, or where potential applicants could not afford the charge, and would be prevented from moving. An analysis of cost and reward indicated that a fee did not represent good value to the customers and so the Committee recommended its removal from the policy.

Members noted that the review of these policies was part of a wider review of the way the Council manages tenancies. By taking the opportunity to streamline service delivery, tenants would enjoy greater choice and clarity. This would lead to a thorough, fundamental review of the housing service to ensure that it provides value for money and is efficient. Members were advised that the next policy that would be subject to review was the Council’s allocations policy.

Cabinet Members agreed the recommendations in the report with the addition of a delegation to the Cabinet Member for Housing allowing him to make minor amendments to the policies prior to their publication.