Issue - meetings

To consider and to recommend to Council that a new Housing Allocation Policy is published for consultation.

RECOMMENDED:

That the new Housing Allocations Policy, as attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved for consultation.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Homelessness Task and Finish Group, and to respond to new duties imposed by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Council’s Housing Allocation Policy had been reviewed.

The key changes from the existing policy were set out in paragraph 3.2 of Report Item 7 to the Cabinet.  In particular, the introduction of defined bands would give a more realistic picture of the level of housing need and consequent priority of that need being met.  In addition, in future only those people with a housing need (as defined within one of the Council’s bands); were over 16; had a local connection (as defined within the policy); and lacked the financial means to resolve their housing need would be eligible to join the housing waiting list.  Other criteria, such as anyone that had deliberately worsened their circumstances, would also exclude applicants from the waiting list.

In accordance with the legislative requirements the Housing Allocations Policy needed to be subject to consultation with existing applicants and private registered providers of social housing in the District for a 4 week period.  It was proposed that this consultation would take place early in the New Year with the responses being considered by the Cabinet and the Council in April 2019.

Members noted the detailed health and wellbeing assessment that had been undertaken, recognising that mental and physical wellbeing could be prejudiced by poor or inappropriate housing.

RECOMMENDED:

That the new Housing Allocations Policy, as attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 6 to the Cabinet, be approved for consultation.