Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED –

1. That the Draft Allocation Scheme set out in Appendix A of the report be approved for consultation.
2. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning be delegated authority to consider any comments received through the public consultation and make any appropriate minor changes to the Draft Allocation Scheme before then publishing the Scheme for implementation be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comply with Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 and to ensure the Scheme continues to remain relevant and up to date with current housing policy.

Councillor Hugo Pound, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced Stuart Clifton, Housing Services Manager who presented the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The scheme in its current form was welcomed as it had refined the process in terms of priority which would benefit residents.

RESOLVED –

1. That the Draft Allocation Scheme set out in Appendix A of the report be approved for consultation.
2. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning be delegated authority to consider any comments received through the public consultation and make any appropriate minor changes to the Draft Allocation Scheme before then publishing the Scheme for implementation be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comply with Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 and to ensure the Scheme continues to remain relevant and up to date with current housing policy.

Councillor Hugo Pound, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning gave an overview of the scheme and introduced Stuart Clifton, Housing Services Manager who presented the report as per the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members and Officer clarification included:

              i.        Within the Allocation Scheme there was qualifying criteria for local connection and it was confirmed that the proposed changes to the allocation scheme tightened those requirements, and still allowed for exemptions which included those required by statute, members of armed forces and extended to care leavers.

             ii.        It was confirmed that some properties had no local connection criteria set and were available for all  applicants to bid on. However, some properties and developments secured under Section 106 Agreements had, as part of a condition that those properties were allocated to people with a local connection to the parish area before opened up to the wider Borough.

            iii.        An explanation of Transfer Tenants, Tenants that mutually exchange and how those tied into local connection was given.

           iv.        It was confirmed that the financial assessment criteria in section 6.2 was within the existing scheme that had been in operation since 2013. What was proposed through the public consultation was to seek feedback specifically around those financial limits and whether they should be amended and what they should be.

             v.        Thanks were given to Stuart for the work he had done.

           vi.        The work of the Communities and Economic Cabinet Advisory Board and the Housing Advisory Panel which was a cross party team was recognised and the recommended changes they had seen on the local connection criteria and the financial assessment criteria that it would go to public response and consultation and the stakeholders input.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report be supported.