Issue - meetings

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

RESOLVED –

1. That the temporary suspension of the housing register for a period of one month to allow the new housing IT system to be implemented in Tunbridge Wells and across Kent be approved.

2. So that a reassessment of applications against the Council’s new Allocation Scheme can be carried out, existing housing register applicants be required to re-apply to the housing register, be approved. 

3. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment be delegated authority to make future decisions should the date for closure of the housing register need to be any later than 1 June 2023 be approved. 

REASON FOR DECISION:

Suspension of the housing register will allow the transfer of data to be easily uploaded to the new system and provide a much easier process to assess new applications against the new Allocations Scheme. 

Councillor Hugo Pound, Cabinet Member 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:

-       Assurances were needed that measures had been put in place to ensure that vulnerable and existing applicants were protected and wouldn’t fall through the gap when the new system was introduced.

-       Paragraphs 1.10 to 1.14 of the report updated a communication strategy that involved sending reminders via email and writing directly to ensure applicants reapplied so their existing priority date was retained.  A register of applicants who hadn’t applied would also be kept so that further contact could be made to ensure that contact had been made to all applicants. This would be in addition to the various campaigns as part of the Kent Homes Choice system, both on the website itself and when applicants logged into their account.  There would also be notifications on the TWBC website.

-       The new allocation scheme had already been introduced.  It would be important to ensure that no one was disadvantaged by being transferred across at their current allocation status to the new scheme. 

-       Most applicants were accessing their account on the Kent Homes Choice system quite regularly so this was a good place to remind them of the need to reapply.

-       It was envisaged the process would be a lot less complicated as it had been reasonably well prepared.

RESOLVED –

1. That the temporary suspension of the housing register for a period of one month to allow the new housing IT system to be implemented in Tunbridge Wells and across Kent be approved.

2. So that a reassessment of applications against the Council’s new Allocation Scheme can be carried out, existing housing register applicants be required to re-apply to the housing register, be approved. 

3. That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment be delegated authority to make future decisions should the date for closure of the housing register need to be any later than 1 June 2023 be approved. 

REASON FOR DECISION:

Suspension of the housing register will allow the transfer of data to be easily uploaded to the new system and provide a much easier process to assess new applications against the new Allocations Scheme.