Decision details

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Communities, the purpose which was to seek approval to amend the existing social housing Allocations Scheme, to ensure that the Council was compliant with legislation requirements and making the best use of social housing stock in the borough.

All local housing authorities in England were required to maintain an allocations scheme, pursuant to S.166A of the Housing Act 1996. This is regardless of whether the authority owned the stock in its area or, as in the case of OMBC, formed part of a wider CAF in which several different social landlords apply the same allocations policy.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1 (preferred Option) – to approve the proposed changes to the Allocations Policy, as detailed in the Director of Communities submitted report

Option 2- to reject the recommendations in the report and do nothing.

Resolved:

1.    That the suggested amendments to the Allocations Scheme, as outlined in the report of the Director of Communities, be approved.

2.    Approval is given to begin re-registering existing Housing Register applicants under the requirements of the new scheme once the service’s system provider has undertaken any required system changes.

3.    That approval is given to delay full implementation of the new scheme, by up to 12 months from the date of this decision, in the event of the service’s software provider requiring time to deliver the necessary system changes.

4.    That approval is given to recruit a Right Sizing Officer who will co-ordinate a right sizing scheme on behalf of all social housing providers on the Common Allocation Framework. This post will be funded via a contribution from each social housing provider taking part.

5.    That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Communities, enabling him to amend the annual lettings plan following consultation with social housing providers that are part of the Common Allocation’s Framework.