Issue - meetings
Allocations Policy (Band E - Devon Home Choice) Revised Report
Meeting: 17/12/2015 - Cabinet (Item 109)
109 Allocations Policy (Band E - Devon Home Choice) (2-54-12) 
PDF 391 KB
Arising from a report of the Allocations Policy Working Group, the Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that:
Band E be retained only on the following assumptions:
- All applicants to be reviewed annually on Devon Home Choice, this will also include contacting applicants to remind them that they may not have logged onto the Devon Home Choice system or have never placed a bid on the system. This will take out some of the “dead wood” on the system and remove those who have moved and not notified Devon Home Choice of their changes. Applicants will be given 21 days in which to respond. Should they not reply then the application will be suspended.
- Contact applicants who have not logged onto the system to ascertain the reasons behind this.
- Applicants who have refused 3 properties will be investigated as to the reasons for the refusal, to determine if they should remain in their current band or suspended.
- Mid Devon goes out for consultation on its Housing Allocation Policy proposing that the policy be rewritten to include the following points:
- Applicants will be removed from the Devon Home Choice waiting list if they do not bid for properties over a 12 month period*. (*subject to review of available & suitable properties)
- Applicants will be removed from the waiting list if they refuse 3 suitable offers of accommodation subject to availability or properties within their required location or adjacent parish.
- Whilst carrying out a consultation, the working group may wish to include other elements to the review.
- That there be a review in June 2016.
(These changes can be implemented ready for the 1st April 2016. This would allow for the consultation period of 6 weeks (as recommended by DCLG), a new allocation policy to be written and sent to the PDG for agreement).
Minutes:
Arising from a *report of the Allocations Policy Working Group, the Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that:
Band E be retained only on the following assumptions:
- All applicants to be reviewed annually on Devon Home Choice, this will also include contacting applicants to remind them that they may not have logged onto the Devon Home Choice system or have never placed a bid on the system. This will take out some of the “dead wood” on the system and remove those who have moved and not notified Devon Home Choice of their changes. Applicants will be given 21 days in which to respond. Should they not reply then the application will be suspended.
- Contact applicants who have not logged onto the system to ascertain the reasons behind this.
- Applicants who have refused 3 properties will be investigated as to the reasons for the refusal, to determine if they should remain in their current band or suspended.
- Mid Devon goes out for consultation on its Housing Allocation Policy proposing that the policy be rewritten to include the following points:
- Applicants will be removed from the Devon Home Choice waiting list if they do not bid for properties over a 12 month period*. (*subject to review of available & suitable properties)
- Applicants will be removed from the waiting list if they refuse 3 suitable offers of accommodation subject to availability or properties within their required location or adjacent parish.
- Whilst carrying out a consultation, the working group may wish to include other elements to the review.
- That there be a review in June 2016.
(These changes can be implemented ready for the 1st April 2016. This would allow for the consultation period of 6 weeks (as recommended by DCLG), a new allocation policy to be written and sent to the PDG for agreement).
RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.
(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)
Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Meeting: 01/12/2015 - Homes Policy Development Group (Item 56)
56 Devon Home Choice Working Group Report (01:26:35) PDF 391 KB
To receive a report from the Devon Home Choice Working Group including its recommendations in relation to Band E.
Minutes:
The Group had before it a report * from the Devon Home Choice Working Group including its recommendations in relation to Band E.
The Chairman of the Working Group outlined the contents of the report summarising the work that had taken place and the conclusions reached by the working group.
Discussion took place with regard to some amendments needed to the recommendations within the draft report. It was therefore:
RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:
Band E be retained only on the following assumptions:
- All applicants to be reviewed annually on Devon Home Choice, this will also include contacting applicants to remind them that they may not have logged onto the Devon Home Choice system or have never placed a bid on the system. This will take out some of the “dead wood” on the system and remove those who have moved and not notified Devon Home Choice of their changes. Applicants will be given 21 days in which to respond. Should they not reply then the application will be suspended.
- Contact applicants who have not logged onto the system to ascertain the reasons behind this.
- Applicants who have refused 3 properties will be investigated as to the reasons for the refusal, to determine if they should remain in their current band or suspended.
- Mid Devon goes out for consultation on its Housing Allocation Policy proposing that the policy be rewritten to include the following points:
- Applicants will be removed from the Devon Home Choice waiting list if they do not bid for properties over a 12 month period subject to availability of properties within their required location or adjacent parishes.
- Applicants will be removed from the waiting list if they refuse 3 suitable offers of accommodation subject to availability of properties within their required location or adjacent parishes.
- Whilst carrying out a consultation, the working group may wish to include other elements to the review.
- That there be a review of progress in June 2016.
(These changes can be implemented ready for the 1st April 2016. This would allow for the consultation period of 6 weeks (as recommended by DCLG), a new allocation policy to be written and sent to the PDG for agreement).
(Proposed by Councillor W J Daw and seconded by Councillor J D Squire)
Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.