Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report on proposed changes to  the Home Choice Plus Allocations Scheme for determining priorities and defining the procedures to be followed in allocating social housing provision. The proposed changes followed consultations and reviews undertaken as part of the Home Choice Plus Partnership.

Members were reminded of the background to this issue including previous Cabinet discussion. It was reported that consultations had been  undertaken with the other Local Authorities in the Partnership in relation to local connection and how to best prioritise the housing needs of Bromsgrove residents when allocating properties in the District. It was recognised that the number of families coming into Bromsgrove without a local connection was small and was less than the number moving out into other parts of Worcestershire.

It was reported that the new Home Choice Plus Allocations Policy would reduce the number of people able to register from outside the Partnership area. It was felt in view of this that it would be appropriate to monitor the allocations for a twelve month period and to review the impact of the new Policy. Members requested however that at the end of this period, if there were concerns regarding the process, that officers would be in a position to come forward with proposals for change including financial implications. 

Members felt it was very important that there was a clear understanding of the number of people who were homeless within the District and it was noted that this Policy would assist with ensuring the accuracy of the numbers involved and improving the understanding of the true position.          

The report also recognised Members’ previous request to consider afresh the value of continuing with a Choice Based lettings system for Bromsgrove. It was reported that some early work had commenced to understand the value of the Choice Based lettings model and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust had offered to work with this Council’s officers to understand how well the existing model supports this Council’s strategic purpose  “ help me to find somewhere to live in my locality”. This analysis would be part of the review of the Allocations Policy at the end of the twelve month period.

The report also contained details of the preferred options for the expenditure of the remaining £26,000 available within the Department of Communities and Local Government  Homelessness funding for 2014/15.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the Home Choice Plus Allocations Policy as contained in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(b)       that officers be requested to undertake a review of the Policy after a period of twelve months from the implementation date to establish whether it is the most effective way of meeting the Council’s strategic purpose  “ help me to find somewhere to live in my locality”; and

(c)        that the Council works closely with Bromsgrove District Housing Trust during the next twelve months to establish whether from a “systems-thinking” perspective , Choice Based Lettings is the most effective way of meeting the strategic purpose.

RESOLVED  that the remaining funds within the 2014/15 Department of Communities and Local Government Homelessness Funding be utilised in supporting Bromsgrove District Housing Trust in implementing the approved Policy and its impact (£21,000) and the Fry Housing Trust in respect of their housing scheme for ex-offenders in Bromsgrove (£5,000).