Issue - meetings

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy Housing Allocation Policies which require alignment, as per the Statutory Order from Government.

The BCP Housing Allocation Policy seeks to harmonise each policy providing criteria used to consider applications for the BCP Council Housing Register.  It sets out the eligibility, qualification and assessment criteria on which different housing circumstances of person will be prioritised. 

All nominations to social housing properties managed by BCP Council, Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) and local housing associations will be made in accordance with the policy and administered through a revised BCP HomeChoice scheme.

Implementation for the new policy is proposed for July 2021 when the IT system is fully mobilised in line with the approved policy.

RESOLVED that the proposed Policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Homes

Reason

This report is for approval of a new BCP Housing Allocations Policy which is required for alignment as per the Statutory Order agreed with Government.

The Portfolio Holder for Homes presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy Housing Allocation Policies which require alignment, as per the Statutory Order from Government.

In relation to this Cabinet were informed that the BCP Housing Allocation Policy sought to harmonise each policy providing criteria used to consider applications for the BCP Council Housing Register and set out the eligibility, qualification and assessment criteria on which different housing circumstances of person will be prioritised. 

Further to this Members were advised that all nominations to social housing properties managed by BCP Council, Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) and local housing associations will be made in accordance with the policy and administered through a revised BCP HomeChoice scheme.

Cabinet were advised that implementation for the new policy was proposed for July 2021 when the IT system is fully mobilised in line with the approved policy.

Cabinet were informed of the following recommendations from the recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board:

1.      That paragraph 8.1 of the Housing Allocations Policy document be amended to include the following wording:

“…will be able to approve minor technical amendments to the allocations policy. Where a change will negatively impact on any single tenant group or any group covered by the Equalities Act this should be referred back to cabinet for approval?”

2.      That section 18 of Appendix C to the Housing Allocations Policy be amended to include the following wording:

“You currently live in the BCP council area and have done so for at least two years continuously prior to the application. Where there is a break in occupancy during this time of up to 6 months due to enforced family move this can be considered on a case by case basis where the household has been a long term (10yrs plus) resident in the BCP Council area”.

In respect of recommendation 1 from the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Portfolio Holder advised that paragraph 8.1 of the policy would be amended to take account of the fact that minor changes will be agreed by senior officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Homes, and that this will assist in ensuring the scheme continues to meet legislative and best practice requirements, changes may involve clarification on wording etc as felt appropriate over time. And that before adopting any changes to the scheme that relate to a major change in policy which significantly impacts on any single group the Council will comply with the procedures as set out in Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 and the Policy should be referred back to Cabinet for approval.

With regards to recommendation 2 from the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Portfolio Holder advised that section 18 of Appendix C be amended to make reference to the following:

‘applicants who have had a break  ...  view the full minutes text for item 251

To consider the following housing related reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 11 November 2020:

•   Housing Allocations Policy

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise the reports and make recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Bob Lawton, Portfolio Holder for Homes

The Cabinet report is attached for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Housing Allocations Policy - The Portfolio Holder for Homes introduced the report, a copy of which had been circulated and which appears as Appendix ‘C’ to the Cabinet minutes of 11 November in the Minute Book. A number of issues were raised by the Board in the subsequent discussion, including:

·     A Board member commented that merging three policies would always be a challenge. However, they raised concerns regarding the loose and vague wording used in several instances throughout the document. The Portfolio Holder advised that each case would be decided upon by its merits and that he didn’t want a document which would constrain officers too much, however he took on board the comments from the Councillor. An officer advised that this policy also applied to social landlords and the Council had no legal control as to whether they may undertake particular proceedings and therefore this was the reason for some of the wording.

·     A Councillor commented that he was pleased to see hospital discharges included in e emergency band for accommodation. The Councillor also asked how the legacy policies came together in terms of tenancy lengths and successions. It was noted that everybody was being reassessed but the plan for this was still being finalised. There was a concern that Bournemouth residents had been on the register longer but most people across the whole of BCP had been reassessed in the last five years.

·     In response to a question regarding Councillor engagement in the appeals process. It was noted that there was a need to be very careful how this process was handled but the Portfolio Holder advised that he would discuss this issue with officers. The process for reviews was set out in law and is always conducted by a senior officer.

·     A Councillor raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and felt that there should be stronger measures to deal with this. The Portfolio Holder advised that his was taken seriously and appropriate measures would be taken to deal with anti-social behaviour. It was explained by an officer that the behaviour on anti-social behaviour was covered in a completely separate policy.

·     In response to a question regarding sanctions for those in the emergency band who refuse a direct let, the Board was advised that there should be no reason for someone to turn down an offer but if someone unreasonably turned down a property which met their needs, they would be changed to a band which would next best reflect their needs.

·     A Councillor commented on a section on sanctions within the draft which had been removed. There was concern that the sanctions outlined in the bidding process were putting off some older residents from bidding. The officer advised in managing the restrictions previously they had only written three warning letters and had not had to restrict anybody.

·     Check on last section.

·     A Councillor raised concerns about paragraph 8.1, which allowed for a minor amendment by head of housing and portfolio holder. The five percent outlined could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86