Purpose

To seek Executive approval for
the Draft Fareham Housing Allocations policy for adoption.

 

Under the Housing Act 1996 (as
amended). Every local housing authority in England is required to have an
allocation scheme that sets out both the priorities for allocating social
housing and the procedures to be followed.

 

In addition to these statutory
requirements, local authorities have the discretion to set their own qualification
criteria or to give additional preference to other groups, so long as these do
not undermine the statutory reasonable preference categories set out in the Act.

 

The Draft Fareham Housing
Allocations Policy provides comprehensive information on the allocations
process, qualification criteria, background and relevant legislation.  This Policy updates the previous Allocations
Policy, adopted in 2020, and updates the information on our website.

 

At its meeting on 3 April 2025,
the Housing Scrutiny Panel approved the document to go forward to
Executive.  Following Executive agreement
on the 20 May 2025, the Draft Fareham Housing Allocations Policy was circulated
for public consultation from 4 June until the 18 July 2025.  Copies were sent to key partners and
neighbouring local authorities, and those with an open application on the
Housing Waiting List.

 

 

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

 

(a)  notes
the outcome of the consultation and the changes that have been made to the Policy
and accompanying documents;

 

(b)  agrees
that the Draft Fareham Housing Allocations Policy, as attached at Appendix A to
the report, be adopted;

 

(c)  agrees
to delegate authority to make any amendments needed, such as future updates to
legislation or minor clarifications, to the Director of Housing following
consultation with the Executive Member for Housing; and

 

(d)  agrees
to delegate authority to the Director of Housing, following consultation with
the Executive Member for Housing, to produce and publish an Easy Read.