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Agenda item

Bristol Housing Allocation Scheme Review

Minutes:

The Head of Housing Options delivered the presentation on the Bristol Housing Allocation Scheme Review. Key points raised included:

?       The Bristol Housing Allocation Scheme was under review with the intention to make improvements to the scheme, ensuring housing for those in the greatest need while recognising the limited housing stock available. The scheme had last been reviewed in 2014.

?       The project had gathered input and developed proposals which had been adapted into a survey available as part of Public Consultation. The intention was to finalise the proposals and write the policy once the results of the survey were received and analysed.

?       A ‘Managed Choice’ model had been proposed, which combined a Choice based approach to bids with a mix of Direct Offers.

?       Further work around accessing existing housing stock (such as incentivising down-sizing) was intended, as well as ensuring that Banding prioritisation was appropriate.

Commission Members commented and raised questions regarding the report. The Head of Housing Options and Director of Housing and Landlord Services provided responses.

?       A Member praised the intended Managed Choice approach, and queried to what extent factors such as local support networks or children in local schools were considered in placing people in their requested areas. Officers clarified that under the Choice based system that tenants could place bids according to their own requirements and were left to determine their own priorities, while it was recognised that those choices were limited due to the available stock. Officers were working on local lettings policies in order to support sustainable communities.

?       A Member suggested consultation with veterans as a group of interest. Officers had developed good relationships with army charities, and veterans had been allocated additional priorities around housing.

?       A Member noted that the existing approach to supporting tenants to downsize required improvement, with some tenants concerned that another property would not have the appropriate accommodations or be less hospitable. Officers had had discussions on this issue and were looking at restarting a ‘downsizing pilot’ to be more proactive in this area by working with existing tenants.

?       A Member raised a concern about the proposal not to move tenants who display anti-social behaviour, as this can ‘lock in’ behaviour and disrupt a community. A move in those circumstances might be more beneficial. Officer discretion at each level of decision making was required. Officers stated that part of the consultation was around finding the appropriate balance between discretion and regulation; in the example of anti-social behaviour it would be expected that parallel enforcement action would also be taken but where this rose to the level of property loss this would of necessity be a long process and some action would need to be taken in the interim.

?       A Member asked for further information around reducing waiting list demand. Officers stated that the review of bandings and proactive management of the Housing Register would provide reassurance that the top priorities were appropriate, then work would be undertaken to reduce demand by managing expectations for those on lower bandings who were less likely to be housed.

?       The challenges of housing Care Leavers was raised, including instances where Care Leavers found themselves unable to manage a property and being forced into homelessness. Officers acknowledged these challenges and the importance of this work, and had worked closely with Social Care colleagues with a refreshed Housing offer for Care Leavers. This involved inter-departmental working to monitor Care Leavers’ cases.

?       A Member noted that there were both positives and negatives around local lettings policies, as it might have a knock-on effect on the mix of housing available across the city and the diversity of communities. Officers acknowledged this issue; local lettings policies should be discussed with Ward Councillors to ensure each is appropriate to its area.

?       The Officers were congratulated for the clarity of choices and questions in the provided survey.

?       It was queried why a fully managed Register /direct bid system had been rejected as an option considering the limited choices of available property, and whether there was a risk of this defaulting into a fully managed system if the refusal rate remained high. Officers responded that the Housing Register issues were a nationally recognised problem, but few Local Authorities had found it necessary to use a fully managed system, and the preference would always be to allow choice where possible. A priority was to be up front about the choices available and working to reduce refusals while being sensitive to the challenges of declined offers.

?       A Member asked how the proposals would fit with Bristol City Council’s wider objectives around homelessness prevention. Officers responded that homelessness prevention had been part of the discussions in developing the proposals, and part of the consultation focused on banding for those threatened with homelessness in order to prevent tenants becoming homeless.

?       It was confirmed that the Housing Register was open to all Housing Associations through HomeChoice.

?       A Member recommended proactively looking at private properties that could be used as part of an active rather than responsive approach, and recommended speaking to Councillors who may already have been made aware of appropriate properties. Officers noted this suggestion.

?       A Member raised a concern about the mix of Housing stock being built. It was stated that Planning and Housing Development worked closely together and advocating for an appropriate mix of builds was one of the responsibilities. The Housing Register demonstrated the types of builds required.

?       A Member queried whether there would be a benefit in providing a service to tenants who may have an interest in downsizing or moving but encountered barriers, i.e. were unsure how to commission work needed on a new property. Officers noted this suggestion.

?       A Member requested further information about the impact of changes in prioritisation on existing applicants who may have protected characteristics. Officers responded that work with Care Leavers had already been referenced, and an Equalities Impact Assessment would be completed. More information could be provided after discussion with the Project Manager.

The Chair thanked Officers, and requested that further information be provided following the outcome of the consultation.

RESOLVED; That Officers note the comments of the Communities Scrutiny Commission for consideration, including the requests i) to provide further information to Scrutiny once the outcomes of the consultation were known, ii) to provide further information around the impact of proposals and/or the Equalities Impact Assessment once completed.

Supporting documents: