Agenda item

Report on choice Based Letting and Homelessness Strategy Implementation

Decision:

(a)  That the implementation of an advert and bid approach to letting social housing be postponed.

(b)  That the minor changes to the housing register as outlined in paragraph 5.21 of the report be adopted

(c)  That Officers may apply discretion to offer tenants of under occupied homes, of four bedrooms and larger, incentives to exchange by varying the existing tenants incentive scheme

(d)  That the progress made in preventing homelessness be noted

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report on the current situation regarding the introduction of an ‘advert and bid’ choice based letting system and seeking approval for the proposed course of action.  The report also set out the progress in delivering the Homelessness Strategy and an update on homelessness and related issues for 2009-2010. 

 

The Housing Needs Manager set out the requirements of the Homelessness Act 2002 which required the Authority’s policy on offering people who were to be allocated housing accommodation, a choice of housing accommodation or the opportunity to express preferences about the housing accommodation to be offered to them.

 

The current Government’s view was that, whilst the previous Government set a target for all local authorities to implement a choice based advert and bid scheme by the end of 2010, this had no statutory or regulatory force.  Local authorities were encouraged to develop local responses on social housing which best reflected their local circumstances, whilst continuing to ensure that the priority for social housing went to the most vulnerable in society.

 

Members were advised that the Authority was already compliant with legislation and met local need.  A delay in implementation of the new housing IT system and the onset of proposed public sector financial restrictions had led to a reconsideration of an advert and bid scheme in Slough.  Officers recommended a postponement until the council’s financial position was clearer and the new housing IT system was fully functional.  The merits of advertising vacant homes could then be undertaken.

 

The Housing Needs Manager explained the proposed minor policy changes to the lettings scheme and sought approval to a policy of officer discretion to incentivise the release of larger and unoccupied in demand units as an extension of the existing tenants incentive scheme ‘Money to Move’. 

 

Commissioners welcomed the proposals in the report and placed on record their appreciation of the work of the Homelessness Team who achieved excellent results in what were often very difficult circumstances.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That the implementation of an advert and bid approach to letting social housing be postponed.

 

(a)  That the minor changes to the housing register as outlined in paragraph 5.21 of the report be adopted.

 

(b)  That Officers may apply discretion to offer tenants of under occupied homes, of four bedrooms and larger, incentives to exchange by varying the existing tenants incentive scheme.

 

(c)  That the progress made in preventing homelessness be noted.

Supporting documents: