Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Customer Access.

The Assistant Director Customer Access presented the report of the Task and Finish Group convened by this Committee to review the Council’s allocation of social housing. The Group had been chaired by Councillor Shiel, other Members being Councillors Hannaford, Mitchell, Morris and Crow.

The following responses were given to Members queries:-

• criteria operated by other Councils for restricting accommodation offers to individuals with a local connection arose from local practise and related to specific policies such as requirements of Section 106 Agreements;
• the proposal for a system to remove applications where people do not bid for 12 months would include a six month trigger for staff to contact the individuals concerned to discuss if there were any barriers to their bidding;
• areas for potentially qualifying for housing in light of community contribution included;

·         employment within the area;

·         voluntary work (the standard used most commonly is 10 hours per month);

·         ex Services Personnel;

·         foster or community carers; and

·         those engaged in training or apprenticeships;

and further suggestions from Members were invited. This would also be picked up in the consultation;

• the system encompassed a more flexible approach with less emphasis on tenancies for life and increased use of private sector accommodation;
• rents were higher for temporary accommodation because of the higher management costs involved;
• the effective communication of the operation of Devon Homechoice and options available had always been a priority and  would continue with proposed changes in the system, highlighted by the consultation process proposed on the suggested changes;
• consultation on Band E would be via the existing register, experience from Teignbridge District Council suggested that there would not be significant concerns. Other outreach methods would be required; and
• the Portfolio Holder referred to a recent tenant survey showing that 31% were either working full or part time with 7% seeking work, 9% not seeking work and 18% unable to work. It was proposed that the Council choose to prioritise working households for some properties, for example, in areas where it is identified that there is an over-representation of economically inactive households. Members supported exploring mechanisms to prioritise working households for some lettings, and targeting areas where there were a high proportion of economically inactive households.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive to consider:-

(1)  restricting the eligibility for housing to those with an evidenced housing need within the policy and thereby removing Band E;

(2)  removing applications where people do not bid for 12 months or refuse three properties deemed suitable for their needs;

(3)  providing additional priority for working households and those who make a contribution to the local community;

(4)  only registering applicants with a local connection of two year’s residence in Devon; and

(5)  agreeing a six week consultation period with households on the housing register, partners (housing associations, Devon County Council, neighbouring local authorities, voluntary sector agencies etc.) and staff on the above recommendations, the outcomes of the consultation to be reported back to this Committee and Executive for final decision.