Issue - meetings
Housing Supply and Demand - Homelessness, Allocations, and Social Lettings
Meeting: 27/07/2015 - Cabinet (Item 11)
11 Housing Supply and Demand - Homelessness, Allocations, and Social Lettings 
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This report provides an analysis of housing supply and demand issues, including performance in 2014/15 and challenges for 2015/16 onwards. A number of recommendations are made in order to manage these challenges.
Decision:
(i) that the analysis of affordable housing supply and demand issues, including performance in 2014/15 and challenges for 2015/16 onwards be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to the revised Placement Policy for Temporary Accommodation and Private Rented Accommodation (PRSO) as set out in Appendix D to the report;
(iii) that Brent Housing Partnership set up an ethical lettings agency as set out in paragraphs 4.23 to 4.26 of the report;
(iv) that the Council award the contract to Brent Housing Partnership to continue to operate The Brent Direct Leasing Scheme (BDL) subject to consent being provided by the Secretary of State under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985;
(v) that approval be given to an exemption from the usual requirements of Contract Standing Orders to carry out a tendering process in relation to High Value contracts, to allow the award of the contract referred to in Recommendation (iv) above to Brent Housing Partnership for the good financial / operational reasons set out in paragraphs 5.20 and 5.25 of the report.
(vi) that agreement be given to the target proportion of social lettings for 2015-16 for homeless, housing register and transfer applicants as set out in paragraph 6.12 in the main body of the report.
Minutes:
Councillor McLennan (Lead Member, Housing and Development) introduced the report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth) which provided an analysis of housing supply and demand issues, including performance in 2014/15 and challenges for 2015/16 onwards. She referred to the challenges of homelessness, temporary accommodation and evictions and the report set out proposals in response which included inside and outside borough provision. Councillor McLennan also drew attention to proposals for BHP to operate a leasing scheme and also establish an ethical lettings agency.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the analysis of affordable housing supply and demand issues, including performance in 2014/15 and challenges for 2015/16 onwards be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to the revised Placement Policy for Temporary Accommodation and Private Rented Accommodation (PRSO) as set out in Appendix D to the report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth;
(iii) that Brent Housing Partnership set up an ethical lettings agency as set out in paragraphs 4.23 to 4.26 of the report;
(iv) that the Council award the contract to Brent Housing Partnership to continue to operate The Brent Direct Leasing Scheme (BDL) subject to consent being provided by the Secretary of State under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985;
(v) that approval be given to an exemption from the usual requirements of Contract Standing Orders to carry out a tendering process in relation to High Value contracts, to allow the award of the contract referred to in Recommendation (iv) above to Brent Housing Partnership for the good financial / operational reasons set out in paragraphs 5.20 and 5.25 of the report.
(vi) that agreement be given to the target proportion of social lettings for 2015-16 for homeless, housing register and transfer applicants as set out in paragraph 6.12 in the main body of the report.