Issue - meetings

The Chairman invited the Strategic Housing and Enabling Officer to introduce this item. The Board was reminded that it had requested sight of the Tenancy Strategy at a very early stage and advised that there were several discrepancies within the report and draft Strategy which had since been amended.  The document would go out for consultation shortly and the findings would be presented to Cabinet in July 2012.  Under the Localism Act the Council was expected to produce a Tenancy Strategy by 15th January 2013, this was therefore a new document.  The Tenancy Strategy related to the letting of all social and affordable rent housing within the district, including adapted properties and sheltered units, however it did not include temporary accommodation or specialist supportive units.  The Strategic Housing and Enabling Officer provided the Board with details and answered questions from Members on the following areas:

• Guidance to Registered Providers in respect of tenancies that are granted.
• Flexible and fixed term tenancies and conditions under which the Council would want the Registered Providers to provide such tenancies.
• The circumstances under which a 2 year minimum period of tenancy would be provided.
• Circumstances under which Lifetime Tenancies would be provided and maintaining existing Lifetime Tenancies.
• The shortage of social housing in the District and how to make the best use of existing stock.
• Objectives of the Strategy – to ensure that affordable housing met local housing need.
• The Countywide Housing Strategy
• The conversion of tenancies to the Affordable Rent Model and ensuring that prospective tenants are fully aware of the cost of such units.
• The disposal of stock by Registered Providers. 
• The allocation of stock under the Localism Act
• The development of a Homelessness Policy
• The risk of homelessness linked to the placing of more people into private rented sector housing and the Council’s relationship with private landlords.
• The availability of properties within rural areas and the effect of this on young people’s ability to remain in those areas.
• The flexibility within the allocation legislation for social housing and the interpretation of Localism.

Officers noted several suggested amendments by Members to the wording of the Draft Tenancy Strategy and confirmed that, where appropriate, these would be picked up within the consultation process.  After further discussion it was

RESOLVED;

(a)               that the Report and Draft Tenancy Strategy as detailed in Appendix 1 be noted; and

(b)               Officers provide the Board with details of any disposal of stock which has taken place by BDHT and details of any claw back clause still in existence through BDHT.