Issue - meetings

Report of Executive Director Wellbeing

Purpose of report

To agree a revised Housing Allocations Scheme for the allocation of affordable rented housing in Cherwell District

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1         To agree revisions to the Housing Allocations Scheme as set out in section 3.9.

1.2      To delegate authority to the Assistant Director Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any future amendments to the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme that are deemed to be necessary and do not constitute a major policy change.

Resolved

(1)           That the revisions to the Housing Allocations Scheme as set out in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed.

(2)           That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any future amendments to the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme that are deemed to be necessary and do not constitute a major policy change.

The Executive Director Wellbeing submitted a report to agree a revised Housing Allocations Scheme for the allocation of affordable rented housing in Cherwell District.

In response to comments from the Leader of the Labour Group regarding the change in policy for people moving on from supported accommodation, the Lead Member for Housing confirmed that this would be kept under review and changes made accordingly if needed as was the case for the policy as a whole.

Resolved

(1)           That the revisions to the Housing Allocations Scheme as set out in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed.

(2)           That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to make any future amendments to the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme that are deemed to be necessary and do not constitute a major policy change.

Reasons

The changes would give greater clarity to applicants, greater coherence to the Scheme and make the processing of applications more efficient. The changes are relatively modest with the key principles of the Scheme remaining unchanged.

Alternative options

Option 1: Make no changes to the Scheme. This is rejected on the basis that over the last 3 years changes have been identified that would make the Scheme work better.

Option 2: Make selective changes to the Scheme but reject those changes that some consultees objected to. Specifically the banding for people in supported accommodation. However we believe band 2 is the appropriate banding in terms of consistency of approach with other homeless households while preserving band 1 for the most urgent cases. We will avoid disadvantaging people who are ready to move on through joint working with the supported accommodation providers and proper exit planning.