Issue - items at meetings - Charging Registered Providers for Choice Based Lettings service

Report of the Executive Director for Environment Development & Housing (copy attached).

(1)            That it is agreed to introduce charges to Registered providers that will pro rata cover the costs of managing the Joint Housing Register and verifying the shortlist of applicants who have bid for RP properties.

54.1   The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which sought to introduce charges to registered providers.  The Council operated a joint Housing Register rather than individual Registered Providers (RPs) having to keep their own registers.  Social housing that was available for letting was advertised through Choice Based Lettings.  Most other councils charged RPs for this work carried out on their behalf. Charging RPs would lead to General Fund savings next year of £140K.  The report was presented by the Head of Temporary Accommodation & Allocation.

54.2   Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to recommendation 1.3 in the report.  (“By charging RPs this will enable us to deliver savings to the General Fund next year of £140k and forms part of our saving strategy and modernising services”).  However, paragraph 7.1 seemed to imply that the income was coming into the housing general fund and the housing revenue account. This seemed a contradiction in terms.    

54.3   Councillor Daniel suggested that there had been a typographical error in paragraph 7.1.  She asked if this should read General Fund rather than Housing general fund.   Officers confirmed this was correct.  Paragraph 7.1 should have referred to the general fund.

54.4   Councillor Mears asked if registered providers had to comply with the recommendations.  The Head of Temporary Accommodation & Allocation replied that if registered providers opted out and did not pay the council money, it would mean that they would have to operate their own housing registers.  This was likely to cost them more and they would still have to provide nominations as this was an obligation under planning consent. 

54.5   Councillor Meadows queried whether all the temporary accommodation the council had through private landlords had to go through Choice Based Lettings.   She suggested that they could be charged as well.  Some people were in temporary accommodation for up to 15 years.  The Chair replied that there were different arrangements for these properties.  Councillor Meadows stressed that she would like to see some remuneration in these cases.    

54.6   Councillor Meadows referred to paragraph 3.6 and asked if there were two registers for housing and adult social care.  It was confirmed that there was now only one register.

54.7   Councillor Meadows referred to the pro rata breakdown for registered providers in Appendix 1.  She asked for clarification about the number of shortlists.  The Head of Temporary Accommodation & Allocation confirmed that this referred to nominations not shortlists. 

54.8RESOLVED – (1) That it is agreed to introduce charges to Registered providers that will pro rata cover the costs of managing the Joint Housing Register and verifying the shortlist of applicants who have bid for RP properties.