Purpose

To provide an update on the Allocations Review
and new draft policy, and seek approval to go out to final
consultation.

Content

The Cabinet considered
a report of the Director of Economy and Place / Cabinet Member for
Regeneration and Housing, which sought to inform of an amended approach to the Council’s Allocations Policy
and Housing Scheme.
 
The
Head of Housing (People) and the Principal Officer (People)
were in attendance to present the
information and to answer the questions of the Cabinet
Members.
 
In May 2024,
officers had presented to members the outcome of the consultation
exercise on the developed high level
policy principles to the Housing Allocations Policy.
 
Following
this, legal advice had been sought from
a leading public law barristers chambers on the Council’s
allocations policy, and amended approach.
 
Recommendations were to consider moving to a Housing Needs
Register. This would be a housing scheme open to those applicants
who met the reasonable preference categories
(in housing need) and whom the Council had a statutory duty to give
priority to housing; with an alternative pathway for those without
a housing need.
 
This
amended approach to how the Council’s housing scheme works,
was also reviewed by an advisor at the Department of Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities (DLUCH), whom recommended that the council
should consider a Housing Needs Only Register and would be
‘beneficial to all applicants and to the
Council’.
 
Resolved that a Housing Needs Only Register
approach be agreed and that approval be
given to carry out consultation with stakeholders, Registered
Providers, and the public on the matter.
 
Reason for recommendation

The new approach would assist the Council
to:

·        
provide a fair and honest housing scheme which is
fit for purpose;

·        
support those in most need by providing a more
bespoke and managed service;

·        
meet its statutory duties and make best use of its
nomination rights to available accommodation in the
borough;

·        
provide an open and honest alternative pathway for
those without a housing need;

·        
provide a true housing options service for all
applicants, aligned with the Connected Services model and the
services provided by the Housing Solutions Hub;

·        
strengthen
the Council’s approach to prevention and homelessness
legislative requirements; and

·        
target
resources where they are most needed.
 
The Council must undertake public consultation on significant
amendments to its Allocation Policy; as
required in accordance to the Housing Act 1985.
 
The consultation would be promoted via the
Council’s communications channels and shared to community
groups and representatives.
 
Alternatives considered and
rejected:
The
Allocation Policy had not been updated for a number of years now
and over this time there had been a
dramatic increase in those applicants to whom the Council owe a
statutory duty to and a significant decrease in the availability of
social housing accommodation.
 
In
depth analysis of the Housing Register
and housing need within the borough had taken place to inform the
review, alongside research to understand alternative policy models
and those of other local authorities.
 
External
legal advice had also been sought from a
leading public law barristers chambers.
 
Continuing
with the current policy approach was not a viable option in order
for the Council to meet its statutory duties.