Agenda item

(NOTE: Councillor H. Evans having earlier declared an interest in this item left the Council Chamber during its consideration)

The Committee was reminded that following the establishment of an Emergency Social Housing Allocation Policy, developed by its Task and Finish Group, the Cabinet, at its meeting held in April 2023 had adopted that policy and agreed a new permanent policy should be developed subject to a 12 week consultation exercise. That exercise concluded at the end of May 2024, with its findings having been presented to the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on the 8^th July, 2024. Subsequent to that meeting, the Committee was presented with the proposed new Social Housing Allocation Policy for its observations, prior to its consideration by the Cabinet, with the main changes detailed below.

·       Applicants will need to re-register every 6 months instead of 12 months, this is to ensure that the register is regularly reviewed and kept up to date,

·       Direct Matching will now be made to all Bands within the Policy and not restricted to Bands A and B,

·       Amendments have been made to the names of each of the priority bands to bring it in line with housing legislation,

·       The matching criteria is clearly set out in order of how applicants are prioritised,

·       Community Connection Areas have been amended to ensure they make geographical sense in terms of allocations,

·       Delegated powers is recommended to be given to the Head of Housing to enable new Registered Social Landlords to join the housing register, and,

·       The Accessible Housing Register allocation criteria has been included as an Appendix to the wider Allocations Policy.

The following questions/ issues were raised on the report:

·       It was confirmed that, as with the current Emergency Social Housing Allocation Policy, regular monitoring reports of the new policy could be provided to future meetings of the committee on a bi-monthly basis. It was also confirmed that a fact sheet could be developed for elected members to help them assist their constituents on any queries they may have on the new policy.

·       Reference was made to the provision of housing to residents subject to emergency Delayed Transfer Of Care (DTOC) from hospital. The Head of Housing and Public Protection advised that while the number of DTOC cases were low, the provision within the policy enabled officers to act quickly to provide suitable accommodation when required.

·       With regard to a question on the rationale behind the Grouped Community Connection Areas, for example the placing of Lliedi within the Llanelli North Ward, the Committee was advised its intention was to restrict community connections to smaller more manageable defined areas than currently existed eg the connection may be employment or family related issues. However, evidence would need to be provided to support that connection and in the case of employment would include proof of employment or offer of employment

·       Reference was made to 2.14 within the policy where no priority would be given to applicants on the register in cases of unacceptable behaviour. Clarification was sought on whether that included waste related issues, especially in relation to the new waste blueprint currently being developed by the Council. The Head of Housing and Public Protection advised the Council had established an interdepartmental steering group on waste and that would include council tenants. However, the circumstances relating to individuals on the register would need to be treated on their merits

·       With regard to a question relating to an applicant refusing a reasonable offer of accommodation, the Head of Housing and Public Protection advised that in such circumstances it was possible the applicant may not be considered for future housing unless their circumstances changed. However, he stressed that each case would be treated on its individual merits.

·       Reference was made to the implications section of the report where it stated that an equality impact assessment had been undertaken with no negative impacts having been identified during the assessment process. In that regard, the committee’s attention was drawn to the historic anti-social behaviour issues within the Tyisha and Glanymor wards of Llanelli arising from the previous allocation policies, Clarification was therefore sought on whether the new policy would prevent similar situations arising within other wards in the future.

The Committee was advised that the Council’s current policies were aimed at creating sustainable communities and to support that aim it had adopted Local Lettings Policies for specific areas, such as new build estates, where appropriate, and introduced a sensitive letting policy to ensure, as far as possible, that past difficulties experienced in communities were not repeated when allocating properties.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the new Social Housing Allocation Policy for Carmarthenshire be received.