Agenda item

Purpose of report

To consider adoption of the Housing Allocations Policy as a document which provided the Council with the framework to manage the allocation of social housing within the district and allow the Authority to meet its legal duties in relation to its housing function.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the report, the proposed Housing Allocations Policy, consultation responses and Equality Impact Assessment.

2.    Approves the Housing Allocation Policy.

3.    Delegates authority to the Director of Housing and Property to make minor amendments to the Housing Allocations Policy, as needed, by changes to regulation or legislation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have made other amendments to the revised Allocations Policy or continue with the existing Policy.

Reason for decision

The Council had a clear commitment in its Corporate Plan to provide housing that met the needs of all residents. As a stock-retained Local Authority, the Council had approximately 6,000 properties with a waiting list consisting of approximately 1,500 live applications.

The current Housing Allocations Policy was adopted in March 2019 and since its implementation issues had been experienced around its ease of understanding in relation to the banding of applications and eligibility size. Taking this into account, as well as the fact that the existing Policy did not take into account the Armed Forces Covenant, recent domestic abuse guidance or the Homelessness Act 2017, it was considered appropriate to undertake a thorough review of the document.

In addition to addressing these issues, the proposed revisions to the Housing Allocations Policy were intended to provide customers in the greatest need with as much choice as possible and to create a Policy which could easily be understood by customers. The main principles behind the revised Policy were set out in paragraph 1.8 of the report, with key changes ensuring the document was lawful, up to date, simplified and transparent. It also ensured that the Council advertised properties, giving residents choice, and proposed a realignment of bandings focusing on those in housing need.

The following comments were noted during discussion:

·       Officers were thanked for the work they had undertaken in developing the revised Housing Allocations Policy

·       It was pleasing to see that updated reference to domestic violence and the Armed Forces Covenant had now been reflected in the Policy

·       A question was raised regarding reference to penalties in respect of the auto-bid process should a customer refuse accommodation. It was noted that the application of penalties could not be ruled out and so it was right that this was provisioned for within the Policy. An assurance was provided, however, that an applicant’s needs would be taken into account as part of the auto-bid process

·       Clarification was sought regarding paragraph 6.5.2.1 of the revised Policy under the banding system in respect of housing conditions, which did not make any reference to private sector housing whereas other parts of the Policy explicitly did. It was explained that all applicants would be considered in line with relevant legislation, such as that in relation to homelessness for example, with other criteria outlined in the Policy being applied consistently