Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Hugh Irving, Lead Member for Customers and Communities (copy enclosed) updating members on the development of a Single Access Route to Housing across the North East Wales sub region and seeking Cabinet approval of the Common Allocations Policy for implementation locally.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves the new Common Allocations Policy for Denbighshire as detailed in Appendix A to the report, and

(b)       requires officers to report back to scrutiny on actions to be taken in respect of the issues raised by the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee as set out in Appendix C to the report and further points raised by elected members at Cabinet.

Councillor Hugh Irving presented the report on the development of a Single Access Route to Housing (SARTH) across the North East Wales sub region and sought Cabinet’s approval of the Common Allocations Policy for implementation locally.  SARTH was a partnership project between major social landlords in North East Wales.  The aim of the Common Allocations Policy (CAP) and its proposed implementation across partner organisations had been detailed within the report.

Officers responded to a number of different scenarios put to them relating to housing need and confirmed there was no cross border link between local authorities.  Members were reassured that local people, including those currently on the housing list, would not be disadvantaged as a result of the new policy and that local connections featured prominently in the assessment process.  Reference was made to the legal context and categorisations of reasonable preference relating to housing need in which local connections could also be applied.

The Chair of Partnerships Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones provided an overview of the scrutiny debate on the report highlighting a number of concerns which had been detailed in Appendix C to the report.  Officers reported on progress in addressing some of the issues raised and it was noted that concerns in respect of poor quality housing provided by Registered Social Landlords should be dealt with as a separate issue.  Other members raised issues not directly related to the CAP including sub-letting of affordable housing; standards of sheltered accommodation and lack of wardens in particular areas, and tenants not maintaining properties and actively preventing improvement to properties.  To ensure all issues raised would be addressed it was agreed that officers report back to scrutiny thereon.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves the new Common Allocations Policy for Denbighshire as detailed in Appendix A to the report, and

(b)       requires officers to report back to scrutiny on actions to be taken in respect of the issues raised by Partnerships Scrutiny Committee as set out in Appendix C to the report and further points raised by elected members at Cabinet.