Issue - meetings

To consider a proposed revised and updated Housing Allocation Policy.

The Executive considered a report in respect of a proposed updated Housing Allocation Policy.

The Chair pointed out that the contents page of the Policy (attached as Appendix A to the report) referred in Section 2 to a number of “Qualification Rules”, but that the Policy itself had them headed as “Non-Qualification Rules”.  This needed to be amended so that both descriptions match.  The Executive supported adoption of the Policy, subject to the above amendment.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the new Housing Allocation Policy, as attached at Appendix A to the report, as amended, be approved.

2.          That the Policy be adopted on 1 July 2024, subject to confirmation of system build requirements and all applicants and relevant stakeholders having been updated.

3.          That an easy read reference guide be created to accompany the Policy.

4.          That the impact of the proposed changes be monitored, and the Policy be reviewed 12 months after implementation.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of a proposed updated Housing Allocation Policy.

The Chair (Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing & Housing Development) advised that the Council continued to make significant investment in its social housing stock and was committed to the Future Town Future Council (FTFC) strategic priority of building ‘More Social, Affordable and Good Quality Homes’.  The proposed new Allocation Policy strengthened the focus on assisting those in most need of housing, thereby making best use of the Council’s limited social housing stock.  This item must be considered against a backdrop of unprecedented demand for housing locally, regionally and nationally due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, amongst other matters.

The Chair requested the Executive to approve the new policy, noting that it would be implemented on 1 July 2024, subject to completion of the associated system build requirements and engagement with those on the housing register. An easy-to-read reference guide would be created to accompany the policy.  The report also recommended that the impact of the policy change was reviewed 12 months post its implementation.

The Chair pointed out that the contents page of the Policy (attached as Appendix A to the report) referred in Section 2 to a number of “Qualification Rules”, but that the Policy itself had them headed as “Non-Qualification Rules”.  This needed to be amended so that both descriptions match.  The Executive supported adoption of the Policy, subject to the above amendment.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the new Housing Allocation Policy, as attached at Appendix A to the report, as amended, be approved.

2.          That the Policy be adopted on 1 July 2024, subject to confirmation of system build requirements and all applicants and relevant stakeholders having been updated.

3.          That an easy read reference guide be created to accompany the Policy.

4.          That the impact of the proposed changes be monitored, and the Policy be reviewed 12 months after implementation.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.