Purpose

Members approval is required on the final
draft Allocations Policy after the second phase of
consultation.

Content

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the
Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services which set out the
findings of the consultation on a new draft Allocations Policy
designed to enable more effective and efficient allocation of
available housing stock to meet housing need. It also outlined
changes to the draft policy which were recommended in response to
the feedback.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That the Housing Policy Committee:
-

(a) 
Approves the adoption of a new Housing Allocation Policy in the
form set out at Appendix 1 of the report;

(b) 
Agrees that the planned target date for implementation of the new
Housing Allocation Policy shall be in September 2026 and grants
delegated authority to the Director of Housing in consultation with
the Chair of the Housing Policy Committee to formally agree the
exact date and arrangements for when the new policy shall take
effect, including altering the implementation date should that be
necessary;

(c) 
Grants delegated authority to the Director of Housing to undertake
all necessary further steps and actions required in order to
formally implement the new Housing Allocations Policy;
and

(d) 
Agrees that 12 months after the implementation of the approved new
Housing Allocations Policy a review of its effectiveness shall be
undertaken and presented back to the Housing Policy Committee for
consideration and that thereafter reviews will occur
annually.
 
(NOTE: The result of the vote on the resolution was FOR - 7
Members; AGAINST - 2 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0
Members.  Councillors Douglas Johnson
and Paul Turpin requested that their votes against the resolution
be recorded).

 

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

Under part VI of
the Housing Act 1996, The Council is required to have an
Allocations Policy. The current Allocations Policy has not been
reviewed for 10 years meaning it does not reflect the demand for,
or supply of social housing in the city. The draft Allocations
Policy appended to this report will enable to the Council to make
better use of social housing in the city to meet housing
needs.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Minimal changes to ensure the Policy is
lawful.
This would resolve the issues of legal challenge, but the
broader issues highlighted in this report would remain. In
particular:

·      
The Council would not be able to discharge legal duties owed in a
timely manner.

·      
OPIL properties would continue to be allocated to households where
a person is under 60.

·      
Adapted properties would be allocated to households not needing
those adaptations and other properties
adapted.

 

 

8.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Only make changes to the draft policy
where the majority of responses were either negative or
neutral.
This would not reflect the valuable feedback that has been
received from expert organisations and would not mitigate potential
impacts on residents of Sheffield with comparatively fewer housing
options.