Issue - meetings

The report recommends changes to the scheme for allocation of social housing following formal consultation with members, residents, interested organisations and council departments. 

RESOLVED:

     i)        That the following amendments to the Allocations Scheme, as detailed in the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing, be approved:

                a)        Amendment 3 - Local Lettings Policy – New Accommodation on their current estate as set out in paragraphs 5.29 to 5.37 of the report.

                b)        Amendment 4 - Local Lettings Policy – Regeneration Areas as set out in paragraphs 5.38 to 5.44 below;

                c)        Amendment 5 - Revising Quotas as set out in paragraphs 5.45 to 5.53

                d)        Amendment 7 - Give appropriate priority for social housing to victims of domestic abuse who are currently living in a refuge or other form of temporary accommodation as set out in paragraphs 5.63 to 5.65;

                e)        Amendment 8 - Policy for Displaced Tenants and Leaseholders in Regeneration Schemes as set out in paragraphs 5.66. to 5.69

                 f)        Appendix 5 to the report to be added as an appendix to the Council’s Allocations Scheme.

    ii)        That the following amendment not be approved but be reviewed in six months to enable officers to research further into how this proposal would work in practice and examine intended and possible unintended consequences:

                   a)         Amendment 1: Allow for the future introduction of a new nominations agreement with Registered Providers with reasonable rents as set out in paragraphs 5.2 to 5.17 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing

   iii)        That the following amendment not be approved but reviewed in two years to understand the impact of the wider activity to increase the supply of other forms of affordable housing:

                a)        Amendment 2 - Allowing households currently in Band D to retain the waiting time they accrued when in a higher band if they become homeless and are placed in TA as set out in paragraphs 5.18 to 5.28 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing;

   iv)        That the following amendment not be approved:

                b)        Amendment 6 -Prioritise Unaffordability as set out in paragraphs 5.54 to 5.61 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing;

    v)        That, having given due regard to the content of the Equalities Impact Assessments in Appendix 4 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing, these be noted.

   vi)            That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing to implement the proposed changes to the Council’s Allocation Scheme as set out in resolution i) above.

CouncillorEllieSouthwood,CabinetMember forHousingandWelfareReform,introducedthereport statingthatthecouncil isstatutorily obligedtohavea schemefor allocating the limited amount of social housing that wehave access to.

CouncillorSouthwoodstated thatthisreport recommendschanges tothatscheme followingformalconsultation withmembers, residentsandinterestedorganisationsand council departments.

CouncillorSouthwoodnotedthatitisimportanttonotethatchanges totheallocationsscheme donothingtoincreasethesupply ofaffordablehousingso theintentionhereissimply tomake surewearemaking bestpossibleuseofwhatwedo have

RESOLVED:

      i.        That the following amendments to the Allocations Scheme, as detailed in the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing, be approved:

                a)        Amendment 3 - Local Lettings Policy – New Accommodation on their current estate as set out in paragraphs 5.29 to 5.37 of the report.

                b)        Amendment 4 - Local Lettings Policy – Regeneration Areas as set out in paragraphs 5.38 to 5.44 below;

                c)        Amendment 5 - Revising Quotas as set out in paragraphs 5.45 to 5.53

                d)        Amendment 7 - Give appropriate priority for social housing to victims of domestic abuse who are currently living in a refuge or other form of temporary accommodation as set out in paragraphs 5.63 to 5.65;

                e)        Amendment 8 - Policy for Displaced Tenants and Leaseholders in Regeneration Schemes as set out in paragraphs 5.66. to 5.69

                 f)        Appendix 5 to the report to be added as an appendix to the Council’s Allocations Scheme.

    ii.        That the following amendment not be approved but be reviewed in six months to enable officers to research further into how this proposal would work in practice and examine intended and possible unintended consequences:

                   a)         Amendment 1: Allow for the future introduction of a new nominations agreement with Registered Providers with reasonable rents as set out in paragraphs 5.2 to 5.17 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing

   iii.        That the following amendment not be approved but reviewed in two years to understand the impact of the wider activity to increase the supply of other forms of affordable housing:

                a)        Amendment 2 - Allowing households currently in Band D to retain the waiting time they accrued when in a higher band if they become homeless and are placed in TA as set out in paragraphs 5.18 to 5.28 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing;

   iv.        That the following amendment not be approved:

                b)        Amendment 6 -Prioritise Unaffordability as set out in paragraphs 5.54 to 5.61 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing;

    v.        That, having given due regard to the content of the Equalities Impact Assessments in Appendix 4 of the report from the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing, these be noted.

    vi.            That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing to implement the proposed changes to the Council’s Allocation Scheme as set out in resolution i) above.