Issue - meetings

Report of Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning

Purpose of report

To advise Executive of proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To approve the proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme (Appendix 1) and adopt the scheme (Appendix 2).

1.2         To delegate authority to the Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any minor editorial amendments to the Scheme as needed prior to publication.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme be approved and the scheme (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be adopted.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any minor editorial amendments to the Scheme as needed prior to publication.

The Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning submitted a report which advised Executive of proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme.

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Housing thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their comments on the Scheme and thanked Housing Officers for their hard work on the Scheme.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme be approved and the scheme (Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be adopted.

(2)          That authority be delegated to the Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any minor editorial amendments to the Scheme as needed prior to publication.

Reasons

The Housing Allocation Scheme sets out how the council processes and prioritises applications for social housing. It sets out the criteria for determining whether a household is eligible for social housing and what level of priority the household will be given based on housing need.

It is important to review the Scheme regularly in order to make sure that it reflects updated statutory guidance and regulatory changes and aligns with current housing needs in the District and that the council can respond to changing patterns of need.

Alternative options

Option 1: Do nothing. Rejected on the basis that the current scheme does need to change in response to customer and staff feedback, developments in statutory guidance and to support the shift to a housing led approach.