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Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Modernising
Systems  
 
RESOLVED: That Cabinet welcomed
the recommendations of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny
Committee in relation to the spotlight review into Modernising
Systems.
 
REASONS RESOLVED: The
recommendation seeks to ensure that Cabinet considers the
recommendations coming from the group.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: The
Committee’s report makes recommendations for the Cabinet to
consider. The Committee hopes these recommendations will lead to
benefits for service users, but it is for Cabinet to determine
whether to adopt some or all of the recommendations.
 
Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee
– West Northamptonshire Council Housing Allocation
Scheme 
 
RESOLVED: That
Cabinet

a)   
Agrees that the proposed non-qualifying criteria for
the new West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme should not
bar persons who have housing related debt but who are making
reasonable efforts to pay it back.

b)   
Agrees that the proposed non-qualifying criteria for
the new West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme should deal
robustly with persons who have damaged social rented housing let to
them in the past.

c)   
Agrees that an applicant who has at least one
dependent child and is living in accommodation where the facilities
are shared with others outside their own household should be placed
in Band B not Band C of the proposed bands for assessing housing
need within the new West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation
Scheme.

d)   
Agrees that the proposed bands for assessing housing
need within the new West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme
should include provision for an applicant who has a dependent child
under 16 years old who is subject to a Child Protection
Plan

e)   
Agrees that clear information regarding the
affordability of properties should be made available to applicants
at an early stage in the bidding process within the new West
Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme, ideally including an
affordability calculator tool.
 
REASONS RESOLVED: The
recommendations are intended to enhance the effectiveness of the
draft Housing Allocation Scheme that WNC issues for public
consultation in 2023 and, ultimately, of the final Scheme that is
adopted. The specific thinking behind each recommendation is set
out in section 5 of the report below. The presentation of the
recommendations reflects the Overview and Scrutiny function’s
role for the development and review of policy.
 
NOTE: Cabinet did not agree
recommendation f) as the go-live date was bound by legal
considerations.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: The
Committee’s report makes recommendations for the Cabinet to
consider. The Committee hopes these recommendations will lead to
benefits for service users, but it is for Cabinet to determine
whether to adopt some or all of the recommendations.