Issue - items at meetings - Allocations policy – Review

Report of the Strategic Director Place & the Strategic Director People (copy attached).

38.1    The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Place which asked members to consider a review of the Allocations Policy including consultation with the city.  A further report would then be brought back to HMCC and the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting with final proposals, following the consultation. 

38.2    The current Housing Register Allocations Policy was implemented in early May 2011.  Under the new policy, Care leavers were not automatically awarded priority for housing, but were assessed for housing depending on their housing need in the same way as other applicants are assessed.  The Children & Young People’s Trust, care leavers and their representatives had raised concerns over the new approach and, in the view of the Council’s significant responsibilities as Corporate Parent, this report proposed a further review of the Allocations Policy. 

38.3    In undertaking the review, officers wanted to use the opportunity to consult on the anticipated changes to allocations following the Localism Bill.

38.4    Councillor Mears stated that the Children and Young People’s Trust had a duty of care to care leavers.  She considered that the proposal of taking care leavers out of CYPT and into the housing allocation to be a budget shift.  There was a funding issue that needed to be addressed.  Tenants needed assurance and needed to be aware of the budget configuration.  Councillor Mears stated that there were no financial implications detailed in the report.  The report did not state what would happen to the CYPT budget.  Tenants needed to totally understand what was being proposed.

38.5    The Lead Commissioner Housing explained that when the full consultation document was released it would include all relevant information, including financial information.  Councillor Mears replied that that information should have been supplied for today’s meeting.    

38.6    Councillor Randall stressed that the current report was asking for an in principle recommendation. He hoped that the proposals would show the success rate of young people who had tenancies.  The responsibility for young people would be maintained.

38.7    Stewart Gover considered that the Committee had no right to make any recommendations today.  There was not sufficient information as to what was ring fenced and what was not ring fenced.  There was no information about budgets.  He commented that the reasons people were put into care could vary and that some had been involved in anti-social behaviour. 

38.8    The Chair stated that she had worked with children who had left care, and most were very pleasant individuals who needed a chance in life. 

38.9    Ted Harman agreed with Stewart Gover and Councillor Mears.  The Committee had not heard the full facts or figures. 

38.10  Councillor Randall stated that there were 483 children in care in the City.  43 were under the age of 1 year.  The parents of these children were involved in substance misuse.  A great number of the children came from the city’s estates.  The council had a duty of care.  He noted the concerns raised but stressed that a report would come back to the HMCC with all the facts and figures and recommendations.  

38.11  The Lead Commissioner Housing stressed that the report in front of members was saying that there would be a 12 week consultation process.  It was asking members to be involved in that process.  During that period, members would be given a host of information.  No decision would be taken today; it was simply the start of the process. 

38.12  Councillor Mears considered it was insulting to bring a flimsy report to the HMCC.  There could have been a more detailed report for consultation.  Children in care, came under the responsibility of the CYPT.  There was still a need to see the funding implications on the CYPT.  She asked for changes to the Allocations Policy to be presented to the Area Panels.

38.13  Tom Whiting suggested changing recommendation 2.1 to add “for final approval” at the end.  Chris Kift concurred.  After a discussion over wording it was agreed to change the recommendation to “That the HMCC consider and commend for approval to the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting the undertaking of a Review of the current Allocation Policy.  Following the review, proposals would be brought back to HMCC and Housing CMM for final approval”.  

38.14  The Lead Commissioner Housing stated that there would be a 12 week consultation process.  A detailed report would come back to HMCC for discussion before being submitted to the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting. 

38.15  RESOLVED – (1) That the undertaking of a Review of the current Allocation Policy be commended for approval to the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting.  Following the Review, proposals will be brought back to HMCC and Housing CMM for final approval.

Note:  Councillor Mears asked for her name to be recorded as not agreeing to the above recommendation, as she was not happy with the process.