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Agenda item

HomeseekerPlus Policy Update

Purpose

To update Members on the legislative changes needed to ensure that the Homeseeker Plus Policy meets the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Allocation of Accommodation standards and reflects the outcome of the stakeholder consultation.

 

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

a)    Approves the Policy for adoption

b)    Give approval for the HomeseekerPlus Management Board to:

·         Confirm the date for adoption once all partners have approval through their individual authorities governance structure (likely to be early 2022)

·         Professionally format the Policy prior to publication

 

Minutes:

Councillor Lisa Spivey introduced the report.

 

Cabinet noted that HomeseekerPlus was the mechanism used to allocate social housing within the District.

 

The policy had been in operation for several years and so the opportunity had been taken to ensure that it now reflected any legislative changes/updates within the social housing sector.

 

Cabinet noted that a consultation exercise had been undertaken which had been open to residents. The changes made following the completion of the consultation were included in the report.

 

Cabinet further noted the shortage of social housing within the District and noted that further work around the policies would be undertaken with partners going forwards.

 

Cabinet noted that the current administration were committed to providing additional social housing.

 

Cabinet noted the importance of having a robust social housing policy in place so that properties could be allocated based on need.

 

Cabinet wished to place on record their thanks to the Council’s Housing Team for the work they undertook to ensure that those who most needed accommodation were provided with it wherever possible.

 

Cabinet noted that a member(s) of the armed forces who had served anywhere in the United Kingdom could apply for social housing within the District.

 

Cabinet noted that having rent arrears would not preclude an individual(s) from being provided with a property. Officers would work with applicants to ensure that any offered and available properties were affordable for the individual(s) and that a plan was in place to pay down any rent arrears.

 

Cabinet noted that in addition to partners funding, hosing associations also provided funding to support the designated Officer and associated IT infrastructure. Partner’s payments were determined according to size of area and the number of social housing properties held.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

a) Approved the Policy for adoption

b) Gave approval for the HomeseekerPlus Management Board to:

 

1)    Confirm the date for adoption once all partners had approval through their individual authorities governance structure (likely to be early 2022)

2)    Professionally formatted the Policy prior to publication.

 

Record of Voting – for: 8, against: 0, abstention: 0, absent: 0.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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