Agenda item

Report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing to follow

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing that detailed the results of an exercise to review the Social Housing Allocations policy and procedure; that provided information on the findings, recommendations and next steps arising from the review; and which sought the Committee’s comments on the review.

The report indicated that the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, on behalf of the 5 Local Authorities who participate in Property Pool Plus (PPP), a sub-regional Choice Based Lettings social housing allocation scheme, and St. Helens Council (who operated Under One Roof -U1R), had commissioned Neil Morland & Co (NM&Co) to carry out a review of how social rented housing was allocated across the city region; that the PPP service went ‘live’ in July 2012 following the introduction of a suitable IT system; and that the local authorities and participating housing associations wished to ensure that the future allocations policy was fit for purpose and supported strategic City Region wide aspirations around access to housing. 

To achieve the aim referred to above the principal drivers for undertaking such a policy review included requirements that the policy:

·       was legally compliant with relevant Government legislation, in particular the recent introduction of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017, Codes of Guidance, statutory obligations and also has regard to best practice and current case law

·       incorporated aims and principles which remained appropriate and relevant

·       helped support and deliver good customer service and outcomes and ensured that any proposed changes improved the customer journey

·       supported wider system change for homeless people, maximising the number of people in housing need who were successfully housed

·       was informed by housing association partner organisation’s operational and business needs, in order to promote current and future co-operation and participation in the allocation scheme

The report concluded that NM&Co had completed stage 1 of the review exercise and their report on the findings of the review were attached as an appendix to the report; and the Committee’s comments on the review were sought. Neil Morland, NM&Co presented the report findings to Committee.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       the re-establishment of a post to coordinate the activities of Property Pool Plus and the potential financial implications to the Council for doing this; and procedures that could be put in place, maybe across the Liverpool City Region, to ensure continuity of service provision if there was a point of failure in one particular authority 

·       the inconsistent treatment of housing applicants by registered social landlords, particularly in relation to eligibility to joining the housing register where there may be a history of rent arrears but applicants have overriding needs to merit rehousing (for example due to severe health needs)

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the exercise to review the social housing allocations policy and procedures be noted; and

(2)        the Head of Economic Growth and Housing be requested to  take into account the comments of the Committee  as a new policy and new procedures are developed further.