Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

To recommend that the revised Home Choice Allocations Policy (with changes as set out in paragraph 1.3) is adopted by Full Council.

RECOMMENDED:

To adopt the Home Choice Allocations Policy.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The new policy fulfils the council’s legal responsibilities, aligns with the borough’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and seeks to make the fairest use of a limited local resource.

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Cabinet noted that the Environment and Community Panel had considered this report and supported the recommendations.

Councillor Rust presented the report highlighting the Policy review had accounted for changes in legislation and changes to the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.  She outlined the consultation and feedback that had been received and considered.  Councillor Rust explained that following feedback the criteria for one in ten properties to be allocated to people in work had been removed to make it fairer to those not in work.  Processes for care leavers had also now been formalised.

Councillor Parish addressed Cabinet under Standing Order 34 and stated that the removal of the one in ten allocations to those in work did not reflect the consultation results.  He stated that it was important to incentivise people to work.

Councillor Rust explained that all feedback had been considered and greater weight had been given to those that had lived experience of the housing processes.  She confirmed that this did not prevent those in employment from applying as they would still be eligible.  Councillor Rust referred to a recent legal case where the one in ten policy had been challenged as indirect discrimination.

The Senior Housing Manager referred Cabinet to the full Equalities Impact Assessment which was included in the report.

RESOLVED:

To recommend that the revised Home Choice Allocations Policy (with changes as set out in paragraph 1.3) is adopted by Full Council.

RECOMMENDED:

To adopt the Home Choice Allocations Policy.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The new policy fulfils the council’s legal responsibilities, aligns with the borough’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and seeks to make the fairest use of a limited local resource.