Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Decent and Affordable Homes had recommended that the revised policy be approved.

Arising from a *report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that the revised Housing Services Allocations Policy be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that homes in the District which become available for letting were allocated appropriately in order to make best use of the stock.  The revised Allocations Policy set out the authority’s approach to the use of preference labels on adverts for available properties through Devon Home Choice and reinforced the cascade process.

Consideration was given to the homeless; Members were informed that this was dealt with via a different strategy.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires)

Note:  *Report previously copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Property Services. Social housing is a valuable resource and the Council needs to ensure that those homes in the District which become available for letting are allocated appropriately in order to make best use of the stock.  The revised Allocations Policy sets out the approach to the use of preference labels on adverts for available properties. The Group are asked to agree the revised policy, which has been reviewed. 

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Property Services presenting the draft Housing Services Allocations Policy. Social housing was a valuable resource and the Council needed to ensure that those homes in the District which became available for letting were allocated appropriately in order to make best use of the stock. The revised Allocations Policy set out the Council’s approach to the use of preference labels on adverts for available properties.

The Head of Housing and Property Services outlined the contents of the report highlighting the changes within the policy that had taken place since the last review. This included offering some of the older person’s accommodation to those over the age of 45 and also incorporating some of the recommendations made by the Band E Working Party designed to reduce the number of cases in Band E.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Looking at individual cases sympathetically in relation to family size and age limit criteria.

·         The necessity to make the best use of the Council’s housing stock.

·         Factors relating to the allocation of properties.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised Allocations Policy be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge and seconded by Cllr R Evans)

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.