Issue - meetings

To receive a briefing paper from the Group Manager for Housing Services providing information on the Devon Home Choice scheme and how it is used in Mid Devon.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Group Manager for Housing Services providing information on the Devon Home Choice scheme and how it was used in Mid Devon.

The Director of Operations outlined the contents of the report stating that local authorities were required to have allocation schemes which gave reasonable preference to certain categories of those in housing need.  Whilst councils were required to give reasonable preference to some people as defined in the statutory guidance, they could manage the housing waiting list in such a way as to support any local priorities; therefore they could refuse to accept applications from those who are not in housing need (Band E).  He identified the number of households in housing need in Mid Devon as at 31 March 2019:

Members were asked whether they wished to pursue options to remove band E (those not in housing need) from the scheme used in Mid Devon.

Consideration was given to :

·         whether or not to retain Band E within the scheme and that there were a lot of people in private rented accommodation that would like a council property

·         The number of properties available via Devon Home Choice and the number available for Band E applications

·         Properties in the rural areas were difficult to fill

·         Whether to dispose of properties that were difficult to fill in rural areas and purchase properties where there was a need

·         People did not always stay within the same band if their circumstances changed

·         The mutual exchange programme.

It was AGREED that there was no appetite to amend the banding at the current time and that Band E should remain within the scheme.

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