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Description: In November 2007 the final version of the council’s Choice Based Lettings Allocations Policy and procedures was agreed by cabinet and was subsequently launched. The key principles of CBL are that: • all available properties are advertised; • customers have a greater say over where they live by choosing which properties they are interested in; • the scheme itself must be simple, transparent and fair. Guidance from Communities and Local Government (August 2008) emphasises the need for local authorities to monitor their allocations policies to ensure that their scheme is meeting its aims and objectives and working well and whether any changes need to be made. North East Derbyshire’s Choice Based Lettings Allocations Policy clearly states that the policy will be subject to a periodic review and that this may lead to adjustments being made to facilitate the fair and efficient running of the CBL scheme managed by Rykneld Homes. This is the first review and revision of NEDDC’s CBL policy since its launch. The 2009 Choice Based Lettings Allocations Policy Review has been undertaken in line with best practice and government guidance. The changes that have been made to the policy are based on: • changes to legislation and outcomes of recent legal cases; • findings from the recent policy review undertaken by Dr Tim Brown from De Montfort University; • input from councillors who attended the CBL member’s seminar held on 15th July 2009; • consultation with front line staff, from both Rykneld Homes’ Choice Based Lettings Team and the council’s Housing Options Team; • Communities and Local Government documents, including Allocation of Accommodation: Choice Based Lettings, Code of Guidance for Local Housing Authorities (August 2008) and Fair and Flexible: DRAFT statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England (August 2009); • a review of available data, including the composition of the waiting list, bidding profiles, property availability and letting information; and • other particular issues that were brought to the Lettings and Allocations Policy Review Steering group.

URL: http://www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/housing/strategic-housing-service/choice-move-allocations-and-lettings-policy-r

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Start Date: 09/12/2009
End Date: 31/03/2010

Responsible officer: Sarah Clow (Tel: 01246 217713)

Service area: Housing Strategy

Department: Sustainable Communities

Councillors involved: Cllr Elizabeth Hill & Cllr C Smith have been leading on this work.

Relevant topics: Children and young people, Well-being, Health - general, Older people, Housing, Homelessness, Disability, Social services/Care, Equalities

Project objectives: Through thorough consultation, the council intends to: • Develop understanding of the Choice Move Allocations and Lettings Policy and the facts around social housing; • Ensure that stakeholders are aware of the proposed changes and why these have been made; • Provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence the final policy through highlighting any problems, issues or concerns they may have with the proposed amendments and raising any issues that have not yet been addressed. Through achieving the above, the council hopes to: • Reduce opportunities for the circulation of misunderstandings and myths about the ways in which social housing is allocated; • Ensure the allocation policy better reflects local pressures and priorities, wherever possible; and • Generate a sense that housing is allocated fairly.

Reason for consultation: The Choice Move Allocations and Lettings Policy is a major council policy that sets out how the council will allocate its housing stock and those of its partners where it has nomination rights. There is both a national and local shortage of affordable housing and how the council chooses to allocate its housing is therefore of importance. Fair and Flexible: Draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England (CLG: 2009) sets out the importance of undertaking consultation and engagement when implementing changes to an allocations policy. It explains that a lack of understanding can contribute to false perceptions of unfairness and can generate myths about queue jumping by other groups. These myths and false perceptions need to be countered through effective, transparent communication and consultation. The council therefore needs to help people understand how social housing is allocated, including ensuring that those that work with local people also understand the allocations policy. The public are more likely to accept that allocation policies are fair if they have a clear understanding of what the policies are and what the justification for those policies is. Part 6 of the 1996 Act imposes certain requirements on local authorities when consulting on changes to their allocation scheme. Local authorities are required to consult with RSLs with which they have nomination arrangements (s.167(7)) and anyone likely to be affected by an alteration to the allocation scheme which reflects a major change of policy must be notified of it (s.168(3)). Under s.3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) an authority is also under a general duty to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Under s.3A of the Local Government Act 1999, where authorities consider it appropriate for representatives of local persons to be involved in the exercise of any of their functions by being provided with information, consulted or involved in another way, it must take appropriate steps to secure that such representatives are involved in the exercise of the function in that way.

Expected outcomes: The review of the council’s allocations and lettings policy has been extensive and has involved input from a number of partners. Given this, and the level of legislation surrounding this area, it is anticipated that no major significant issues with the allocations policy will be highlighted through the consultation process.

Consultation methods to be used: Focus group, Public meeting/event, Exhibition, Circulation of draft strategy or policy, The policy will also be made available on the council’s and Rykneld Homes’ websites

Proposed consultees: Elected members, Employees, Local residents, The consultation will also cover RH Board Members, Registered Social Landlords with whom w

Relevant Wards: Ridgeway and Marsh Lane, Clay Cross South, Clay Cross North, Pilsley and Morton, Ashover, Brampton and Walton, Holmewood and Heath, Sutton, Grassmoor, Eckington South, Renishaw, Tupton, Wingerworth, North Wingfield Central, Barlow and Holmesfield, Unstone, Eckington North, Killamarsh East, Killamarsh West, Dronfield North, Gosforth Valley, Dronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield South, Coal Aston, Shirland

How results will be used to influence decision making/service delivery: Where new issues are raised, the allocations review steering group will undertake an assessment of these issues with the view of making additional changes to the policy where appropriate. These will need to be in line with legislation and case law and will also need to reflect the practicalities of administering the scheme and the information provided through data analysis.

How results will fed back to respondents: Where people have raised issues with the revised policy and these have not been dealt with during focus groups or face to face, a response will be sent to that person setting out what changes have been made in conjunction with their issue (if any), and if no amendments have been made why this is the case, e.g. it would not reflect case law or would entail too much administrative work for team.

How information about subsequent decisions made and services provided/improved will be fed back to the consultee groups, the wider public and other stakehonders: As part of the Allocations and Lettings Policy review it has been agreed that there is a need for ongoing training and updating of staff and members with regards to changes to the allocations policy. There are also a number of forums which can be used to provide information about subsequent decisions and improvements, such as the Homelessness Forum.

Other relevant information: Staff, elected members and RH board members will be consulted prior to RH inspection in February 2010 to ensure readiness, with other elements of the consultation taking place after the inspection. The focus groups will also be used to raise awareness about the policy and what the council is legally obliged to do. Email comments to sarah.clow@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk