Agenda item

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 in local connection for not more than 6 months due to an enforced move not covered elsewhere in the policy who have previously been living in the BCP council area for a minimum of 10 years’

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed Cabinet thanking the Portfolio Holder and Officers for incorporating the spirit of the recommendations form the Board into the Policy.

Councillor Wilson addressed the Cabinet in support of the Policy and thanked the Officers for their hard work.

RESOLVED that the proposed Policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Homes