Agenda item

The Introduction of Choice Based Lettings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor David Kerr)

 

Report of Corporate Director (Community Services)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Kerr)

 

The Corporate Director (Community Services) submitted a report seeking approval for officers to submit a bid for resources via the final round of the Fund for the Development of Regional and Sub Regional Choice Based Lettings (CBL) Schemes.  If successful, the funding would assist the council in meeting a government target for all authorities to have introduced Choice Based Lettings by 2010.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

OPTION

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

RISKS

Option 1

Bid for resources via CBL Fund

·        The Government would potentially fund up to 60% of development and implementation costs

·        Applicants would be actively engaged in exercising choice

·        CBL’s would provide a vehicle for promoting other affordable housing options

·        The housing needs of individual applicants would be better met

·        The council would meet a defined government target

·        Advertising vacancies would create increased demand for potentially hard to let properties

 

·                      The council would need to identify at least 40% of development/ implementation costs plus any ongoing additional operational costs (if any)

·                      Some applicants may have difficulties in engaging in the bidding process

·                     The bid may be unsuccessful and, having raised expectations, implementation would be costly

·                     At this stage, ongoing operational costs have not been quantified

Option 2

Determine not to make a bid for resources

 

·        There would be no additional costs to the council

·        The existing Allocation Scheme, which is familiar to applicants would be retained

·        Once registered, applicants would not need to proactively bid for offers

·                      The Government’s 2010 target would not be met

·                      The Audit Commission KLOE targets for Allocation Schemes would not be met.

·                      A decision to introduce CBL’s at a later date would be more costly

·                      Applicants would not benefit from having a greater choice

·                      The opportunity to promote other housing options would be lost

 

·                     The council could potentially be penalised for not achieving a government target

·                     Some properties may become difficult to let if existing arrangements remain in place.

 

Option 1 is the preferred option as this will ensure that the council meets the Government’s 2010 target and will hopefully secure finance assistance towards the development and implementation of a local CBL Scheme.  Having a single mechanism for bringing together and promoting all options for affordable housing will bring clear benefits to residents in housing need.  Under existing arrangements, only a relatively small percentage of applicants registered for council housing actually receive an offer of accommodation.  For those in need, a CBL Scheme will provide a real opportunity to secure suitable affordance housing.  The development of a Housing Options Service would also provide an opportunity to deliver a comprehensive advice and assistance service from a single point of access.

 

Option 2 would result in the council failing to meet a specific Government target.  It would also mean the continuation of a fragmented service to residents who are in housing need.

 

It was moved by Councillor Kerr and seconded by Councillor Ashworth:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Members then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That officers be authorised to submit a bid for resources via the Fund for the Development of Regional and Sub Regional Choice Based Lettings Schemes.

 

(2)        That the bid for resources be on the basis of Lancaster District being a distinct housing market

 

(3)        That officers investigate the possible introduction of a Housing Options Service to run alongside a Choice Based Lettings Scheme.

 

(4)        That, once the outcome of the bid for funding is known, officers prepare a detailed report to Cabinet outlining the full financial implications of introducing Choice Based Lettings, together with the recommended scheme details.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Community Services)

Head of Council Housing Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision will ensure that the Council will meet the Government’s 2010 target and will hopefully secure finance assistance towards the development and implementation of a local CBL Scheme. 

 

 

Supporting documents: