(Discussion item – Councillor M Thurgood)
Minutes:
Councillor M Thurgood introduced the Executive Director Communities and the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods to the Committee who presented an overview of the Housing Allocations Policy review underway and the timescales to complete the review.
The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods reported that the aims of housing allocations were to:
· Support the Council’s vision and strategic ambitions;
· Enable choice and informed decision making;
· Prioritise those in most housing need;
· Seek to prevent homelessness;
· Support a range of housing options and solutions;
· Be outcome focussed.
The challenges faced by the Council in terms of housing allocations were also highlighted. These challenges resulted from national legislative drivers such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, from Government initiatives in terms of reducing rough sleeping and re-invigorating the Right to Buy and developments across the region together with local supply and demand.
It was reported that the Council was due to commission Housing Quality Network, an independent organisation, to support the Council in looking at insight and intelligence to understand impacts and trends and to inform both Housing Allocations Policy and Homes Strategy.
A snapshot of activity on the Housing Register was provided and it was reported that each household in the highest band and therefore with the highest need had a tailored action plan to place them into suitable accommodation. It was highlighted that the numbers in B&B accommodation had been reduced significantly. This was reported to have resulted from effective prevention work and using Cabinet approved scheme to utilise private sector leasing scheme and utilising some council stock effectively in place of any B&B accommodation.
It was reported that given the complexity of housing need and the pressures which existed, it was important to ensure that the principles around housing allocations were clear and applied consistently.
The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods highlighted that the draft Housing Allocations Policy was being prepared which was planned to be presented to Cabinet at the end of November 2018 to enable the commencement of the statutory consultation period. The following principles were under consideration for inclusion in this draft Housing Allocations Policy:
· Managing expectations and ensuring there was a realistic assessment of housing needs;
· Robust review process, with more frequent reviews to ensure that real housing need was clear;
· Consideration of financial resources and the need to balance this with access to subsidised housing;
· Strengthening local connection;
· Focussed management of households in most need;
· Improved delivery.
The next steps for consideration, consultation and approval of the revised Housing Allocations Policy were reported which included consideration by Cabinet of the draft policy at the end of November 2018, which would start the statutory consultation period, during which it was requested that a more detailed assessment of the policy be undertaken at an upcoming scrutiny meeting prior to full approval being sought from full Council at the 19 March 2019 Council meeting.
Councillors highlighted the need to consider further the retention on the Housing Register of households within Band 4, where there was least housing need.
Further clarification was sought on how the numbers in B&B accommodation had been reduced so significantly. It was reported that a focus on prevention and the utilisation of interim accommodation prior to moving households into a more permanent setting had all contributed as well as the provision of a tailored approach to resolving issues before an immediate housing need presented.
It was agreed that, subject to Cabinet agreeing the timescales and the consultation commencing as expected, this Committee would undertake a detailed review of the draft Housing Allocations Policy and the consultation responses received at its meeting on 22 January 2019.
The Chair thanked Councillor Thurgood, the Executive Director Communities and the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods, who then left the meeting.