That the Cabinet Member with the Health and Housing Portfolio introduced the report of the Group Director of Operations (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the Housing Services Allocation Policy (also previously circulated).
The submitted report stated that the existing Tees Valley Common Housing Allocations Policy had been in place since 2012 and was last updated in 2019; there had been a significant increase in demand for Council housing in Darlington; the existing policy no longer met the strategic needs for Darlington; notice had been given to the Council’s membership of the Tees Valley Lettings Partnership, which would expire in June 2023; and as a result a new Housing Services Allocations Policy was required.
Particular references were made to the key changes between the existing policy and the new proposed policy and to the consultation undertaken with the Tenants Panel and the Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee.
RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted.
(b) That the Housing Services Allocations Policy, as appended to the submitted report, be approved.
REASONS – (a) The Social Housing Regulator’s Consumer Standards places a duty on social housing providers to ensure their homes are let in a fair, transparent and efficient way, taking into account the housing needs and aspirations of tenants and potential tenants. The adoption of a formal Allocations Policy is one of the ways to demonstrate how we will achieve this.
(b) The Allocations Policy will also help ensure we meet the statutory requirements of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017.