Agenda item

Review of Housing Allocation Policy

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Warriner)

 

Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Warriner)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) to request approval of the revised Housing Allocation Policy.

 

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

 

 

Option 1: Do not approve the revised Housing Allocation Policy.

Option 2: Approve the revised Housing Allocation Policy.

Advantages

No notable advantages.

Compliant with current legislation and good practice.  Reduce homelessness and will give young people and people fleeing domestic abuse from outside the District the opportunity to apply to the housing register.

Disadvantages

Not able to carry out our statutory duties to prevent homelessness and assist those who fall outside the current local connection criteria, for example, Lancashire Care leavers and those fleeing violence from other areas not being able to apply to the housing register. Increased statutory homeless applications.

Increase in applications from other Districts or Counties which will increase the administration of applications and potentially reduce the number of available properties.

Risks

Increased complaints and legal challenge.

The revised allocation policy has been reviewed in line with current up to date guidance to avoid risks associated with legal challenge.

 

 

As described in the report, the officer preferred option is Option 2 to approve the revised Housing Allocation Policy see (Appendix 1).

 

Adoption of the revised Housing Allocation Policy will ensure the policy is “fit for purpose” for those in the greatest housing need.  Ensuring we are      compliant with current law and guidance relating to the impending Homeless        Reduction Act new duties from April 2018. The revised Policy will also       ensure that residents who apply to the council for housing will continue to be    treated fairly and in accordance with the law. The proposals provide clarity that applicants falling within the statutory reasonable preference groups will have access to the housing register whilst continuing to recognise good practice.

 

Councillor Hanson proposed a revision to the local connection criteria and officer advice was sought to ensure that the amendment would be lawful.

 

Following on from clarification from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) and the Interim Head of Legal and Democratic Services that the amendment if suitably worded was lawful and unlikely to have a major impact on housing allocations, Councillor Hanson proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:

 

“That the Changes to the Local Connection Criteria (exceptions) be revised to include individuals who were born and lived in the area continuously for a minimum of fifteen years.”

 

The amendment was agreed unanimously. Councillors then voted on the original recommendation, as revised:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)          That the Changes to the Local Connection Criteria (exceptions) be revised to include individuals who were born and lived in the area continuously for a minimum of fifteen years.

 

(2)          That the revised Housing Allocation Policy, as amended to include (1) above, be approved.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The allocation of social housing directly contributes to the Health & Wellbeing corporate priority by improving access to good quality affordable housing.  Officers will be able to monitor the impact of the revision to the Local Connection Criteria (exceptions) and if necessary re-visit the decision if it proves to have too profound an effect on housing allocations. 

 

Supporting documents: