The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

The original recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1.        To note the outcome of the consultation on the Council’s proposed amendments to the Allocations Scheme and the Equality Analyses at Appendices 2 and 4 of the report.

2.        To approve the proposed amendments to the Allocations Scheme as set out in paragraph 3.3 to 3.7 of the report. 

3.        To approve the proposal to remove existing social housing tenants under the age of 50 from Band 3 of the Common Housing Register.

4.        To authorise the Corporate Director Place to develop an Intermediate Housing Register.

5.        To authorise the Corporate Director Place to determine the eligibility criteria for the first three months of marketing any new Intermediate Housing projects, (fully or partially funded by the GLA), following consultation with the Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration.

6.        To agree that the maximum household income threshold for eligibility to join the Common Housing Register be increased to £90,000 as set out in paragraph 3.10 of the report and authorise the Corporate Director Place to increase this figure as and when the GLA amends its maximum household income threshold for eligibility to access shared ownership products. 

7.        To approve the miscellaneous amendments and revisions to the policy as detailed in paragraph 3.11 of the report.

8.        To ratify and/or authorise all past, present and future exercises of its functions under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (as permitted by Article 2 of the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Allocation of Housing and Homelessness Functions) Order 1996) by, or by employees of, the RP partners from time to time to the Common Housing Register, including but not limited to the following: Arhag Housing Association, Clarion Housing, Eastend Homes, Gateway Housing Association, London & Quadrant, Metropolitan Thames Valley, Network Homes, Newlon Housing Trust, North London Muslim Housing Association, Notting Hill Genesis, One Housing, Peabody, Poplar HARCA, Providence Row HA, Southern Housing Group, Spitalfields Housing Association, Swan Housing Association, Tower Hamlets Community Housing or their successors in title or any other RPs or bodies that the Council may choose to partner with from time to time.

9.        To authorise officers retrospectively to contract out the exercise of the Council’s functions referred to in point 8 above.

10.    To review the policy annually and offer the Overview and Scrutiny Committee a report on the implementation of the changes made one year after their implementation (expected to be one year after 1 April 2021),

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Divisional Director, Housing and Regeneration (K. Swift)

(Strategy and Policy Officer, Place (U. Bedford)

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report. He highlighted the proposals which had received the most comments during consultation including amendments which had therefore been made to the proposals to remove different groups to Band 3. He also noted positive changes that were being proposed around relief housing and more.

He proposed an additional recommendation around the future review of the scheme and the offer of a presentation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on its impact.

The report was discussed and various issues were debated including around intermediate housing, overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and abuse, local advertising of properties and the potential for unexpected implications from the changes. The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions and officers for preparing the report. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses, agreed to add the additional recommendation and agreed the updated recommendations.

RESOLVED

1.        To note the outcome of the consultation on the Council’s proposed amendments to the Allocations Scheme and the Equality Analyses at Appendices 2 and 4 of the report.

2.        To approve the proposed amendments to the Allocations Scheme as set out in paragraph 3.3 to 3.7 of the report. 

3.        To approve the proposal to remove existing social housing tenants under the age of 50 from Band 3 of the Common Housing Register.

4.        To authorise the Corporate Director Place to develop an Intermediate Housing Register.

5.        To authorise the Corporate Director Place to determine the eligibility criteria for the first three months of marketing any new Intermediate Housing projects, (fully or partially funded by the GLA), following consultation with the Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration.

6.        To agree that the maximum household income threshold for eligibility to join the Common Housing Register be increased to £90,000 as set out in paragraph 3.10 of the report and authorise the Corporate Director Place to increase this figure as and when the GLA amends its maximum household income threshold for eligibility to access shared ownership products. 

7.        To approve the miscellaneous amendments and revisions to the policy as detailed in paragraph 3.11 of the report.

8.        To ratify and/or authorise all past, present and future exercises of its functions under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (as permitted by Article 2 of the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Allocation of Housing and Homelessness Functions) Order 1996) by, or by employees of, the RP partners from time to time to the Common Housing Register, including but not limited to the following: Arhag Housing Association, Clarion Housing, Eastend Homes, Gateway Housing Association, London & Quadrant, Metropolitan Thames Valley, Network Homes, Newlon Housing Trust, North London Muslim Housing Association, Notting Hill Genesis, One Housing, Peabody, Poplar HARCA, Providence Row HA, Southern Housing Group, Spitalfields Housing Association, Swan Housing Association, Tower Hamlets Community Housing or their successors in title or any other RPs or bodies that the Council may choose to partner with from time to time.

9.        To authorise officers retrospectively to contract out the exercise of the Council’s functions referred to in point 8 above.

10.    To review the policy annually and offer the Overview and Scrutiny Committee a report on the implementation of the changes made one year after their implementation (expected to be one year after 1 April 2021),