Issue - meetings

That

1)  The results from the consultation exercise be reviewed; and,

2)  The proposed Allocations scheme be approved for adoption by the Council.

Report HPR2024/002

The current Housing Allocation Scheme was first published in 2012, amended in 2015 and the last formal update made in 2017 following the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017). In order to ensure that the Scheme was contemporary and met all current legislative requirements a review of the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme was approved in November 2022. 

In September 2023 the Executive approved a revised draft of the Housing Allocations Scheme for eight weeks public consultation. This report contained the findings and outcome of that consultation alongside the final proposed scheme for which approval was sought. 

The report was provided alongside the analysis of the consultation findings in table format (Appendix 1) the final proposed scheme (Appendix 2), an equalities impact assessment (EQIA) relevancy test (Appendix 3), Demographic Profile Housing Register Applicants as of December 23 (Appendix 3A) and Demographic Profile of the Borough census 2021 (Appendix 3B).

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal Recreation and Housing PDS Committee at its meeting on 31 January 2024 and the Committee had supported the recommendations.

RESOLVED: That

1)  The results from the consultation exercise be reviewed; and,

2)  The proposed Allocations scheme be approved for adoption by the Council.

Report HPR2024/002

The report presented the findings and outcomes of the statutory eight-week public consultation on the draft Housing Allocations Scheme alongside the final proposed scheme for which the approval of the Council’s Executive was sought.

In considering the report, a Member queried what happened if an offer of housing was refused.  The Assistant Director: Housing explained that the Local Authority had a statutory duty to support households into suitable accommodation.  While every effort was made to ensure that housing was appropriate, including suitability and affordability assessments, there were cases where households chose to refuse the housing offered.  In these limited cases, the Local Authority’s duty came to an end, although further offers of housing could be made in very limited circumstances including households whose requirements were complex or had changed.  The Member suggested that some households might refuse housing where properties were located out of the Borough.  The Assistant Director: Housing agreed but underlined the need to manage expectations as the reality was that there were very few homes available in Bromley and it was important to communicate this to those seeking accommodation through the Local Authority.

RESOLVED: That the Council’s Executive be recommended to:

1)  Review the results of the consultation exercise and note any amendments in relation to the proposed Housing Allocation Scheme; and,

2)  Approve the proposed Housing Allocations Scheme for adoption by the Local Authority.