The Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a range of issues, including a review of the Housing Allocation Scheme, the future management of council housing stock, and services for children and young people. The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme and consider proposals for future scrutiny reviews.

Call-in of Cabinet Decision: Future Management of Housing Stock

The committee was scheduled to discuss a call-in of a cabinet decision from 11 November 2025 regarding the future management of West Northamptonshire Council's housing stock. The cabinet had reportedly approved a phased approach for bringing the management of housing services from Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) back into the council, with a completion date of no later than April 2027. The decision also delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources to approve a budget of £490,000 from the Housing Revenue Account¹ to cover the estimated costs of the transition. The call-in request, signed by a group of councillors including Councillor Lister, Councillor Tarbun, Councillor Irving-Swift, Councillor Fiona Baker, Councillor Keeble, Councillor Holland-Delamere, and Councillor Simpson, raised concerns about the lack of detailed financial information provided to the scrutiny committee and all councillors. The councillors stated that while the decision notice mentioned a full financial appraisal and cost-benefit analysis, no transparent financial information had been presented. They requested that the cabinet provide an itemised financial appraisal, including detailed cost projections, risk analysis, and contingency plans, before proceeding with implementation.

The Options Appraisal of the future management of West Northamptonshire Councils Housing Stock - update report that was scheduled to be discussed, noted that West Northamptonshire Council owns approximately 11,500 properties, and that most of the council's landlord functions are provided by Northamptonshire Partnership Homes, an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO). The report stated that following the Grenfell Tower Fire², new regulations for social housing were introduced via the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023. The report also noted that WNC referred itself to the Regulator of Social Housing in September 2024 after identifying issues with data quality and landlord health and safety compliance, provided by Northamptonshire Partnership Homes, and that an investigation by the regulator resulted in the council being issued with a C3 judgement for non-compliance with the Safety and Quality Standard.

The report outlined three options that were considered:

• Do nothing - Retain the ALMO and continue to work alongside NPH to improve services
• Cease operation of the ALMO and 'lift and shift' services currently managed by NPH into the Council as is (by April 2026)
• Cease operation of the ALMO and bring services currently managed by NPH over to the Council in a phased approach (by April 2027)

The report recommended following Option 3, stating that:

This will enable the safe and phased transfer of services that allows the Council to manage all the appropriate risks, scale of change and continuity of services, to be completed by no later than April 2027. If the recommended option is adopted, agreement from the Secretary of State for a change in provision will be sought.

The report also included a summary of the consultation with tenants and stakeholders, stating that 22% of the tenants and leaseholders responded to the consultation, with 60% being in favour of bringing the services back into the council.

Housing Allocation Scheme

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise the effectiveness of the Housing Allocation Scheme implemented by WNC from 2024/25. The Housing Allocations Policy - Scrutiny 1 December 2025 document included in the report pack, stated that all local housing authorities are required by law to have a policy for determining priorities and procedures when allocating social housing.

The document also summarised proposed changes to the policy:

• Introduce Band B Succession for successors needing alternative accommodation; direct match if unsuccessful after six months.
• Change Local Connection eligibility requirement to 3 years out of 5 years residency in WNC area.
• Remove 90-minute commute clause for Employment Eligibility; require proof of permanent employment 16+ hours/week for 6 of last 12 months.
• Close family with Local Connection must have lived in WNC for minimum 5 years continuously.
• Move applicants with Supported Move-On from Band A to Band B initially, then to Band A after 12 weeks if no direct offer.
• Only Homeless Applicants owed a Main Duty placed in Band A; others allocated to Band B or C based on duty type.
• Remove part of the previous Band C criteria for those Living with Family (Single/Couple with dependents); and apply to the application, that after 12 months unsuccessful a property being offered, move to Band B.
• Rough sleepers who do not make homeless approach Band C; add criteria for verified sofa surfers in Band C Vulnerable Applicants.
• Remove criteria allowing applicants who deliberately worsened housing situation to remain in Band D; exclude for 12 months, but add a add 12-month exclusion period before reapplication
• Allow up to 5 bids per cycle; introduce auto-bid for Bands A, B & C where statutory homelessness duty owed; auto-bid for Care Leavers in Band A, Direct Offers to Band B Succession. Applicants with unspent convictions – one direct offer in approved area with support network involvement.
• All offers provisional subject to pre-tenancy checks; DV survivors offered properties at least 5 miles away from risk area.
• If applicant meets two distinct criteria within same band, award next higher band.
• Provide three income thresholds Single Applicant: £40,000; Single Parent: £50,000; Couples: £60,000.
• Increased from 33 to 42 calendar days for Assessment Period
• Maximum £1,000 debt allowed with 12-week payment plan for Housing Debt.
• Allow bidding on older persons' accommodation for applicants over 45 with enhanced PIP³ ### 0-19 Services in West Northamptonshire Council The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of services supporting the Healthy Child Programme, including priorities, challenges, and risks. The Healthy Child Programme is a national programme of screening, immunisation, health promotion and guidance, and developmental reviews to support the health and wellbeing of children and families from pregnancy to age 19.

West Northamptonshire Youth Offer

The committee was scheduled to provide pre-decision scrutiny input and challenge on the development of a new WNC Youth Strategy. The council had agreed a motion on 26 June 2025 calling on the cabinet to develop a new strategy for youth provision.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review and note its work programme for 2025/26. The committee was also scheduled to consider a plan for a scrutiny review of in-housing Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) housing stock and services, and a proposal form for a scrutiny review of addressing disrepair in social housing in West Northamptonshire. The Scrutiny Review Proposal Form B- NPH In-housing document included in the report pack, stated that the scrutiny review is intended to enable Overview and Scrutiny to maintain oversight of the in-housing process, and to provide constructive challenge about progress being made towards the intended outcome, and about the mitigation of any associated risks. The document also outlined the key lines of enquiry for the review:

• Overview of the initial NPH in-housing transition plan
• Monitoring of implementation and key risk areas
  • Increased staff turnover, reduced productivity, and impact on staff morale if the transition process is not communicated effectively and transparently.
  • Delivery within agreed resources
  • Link between service transformation and ongoing performance improvement The Housing Disrepair Scrutiny Review Proposal document included in the report pack, stated that the scrutiny topic is suggested because of the importance of everyone having a decent home, the large numbers of NPH properties that fail the decent homes test, and the decision to take management of the NPH stock back in house. The document also stated that estimates are that 20% of the Northampton Partnership Homes stock fail the Decent Homes Test.