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The Housing
Allocations Scheme set out how the Council would assess and
prioritise applications made for social housing in the district and
ensured that only those who had a need for affordable housing, and
a local connection to the area were prioritised.   Following the launch of the new Housing
Allocations Scheme in June 2023, a one year post implementation
review had been completed and some amendments made in line with
ongoing feedback and experience.
 
The report of the
Director of Housing, Planning and Environmental Health asked that
consideration be given to these amendments and agreement was sought
to entering a period of engagement with the Council’s
registered providers, and then make and implement any amendments. A
list of key proposed amendments was set out at paragraph 3.1 of the
report.
 
Cabinet had due
regard to the financial and value for money considerations and the
legal implications and recognised that if the current Scheme were
not amended and continued to operate as it was, this might lead to
the Council being open to challenge and not meeting the needs of
applicants if the Scheme were not kept under review.
 
RESOLVED:
That
 

(1)       
a period of engagement on the amendments to the Housing Allocation
Scheme set out at 3.1 of the report, be entered into with the
Council’s registered providers; and

(2)       
authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and
Environmental Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for
Finance and Housing to agree the final revised Housing Allocations
Scheme once feedback from the engagement phase has been
considered.