Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of interests were received.

The Head of Housing will deliver a presentation on Select Move that will be circulated at the meeting along with additional background documents for your information.

The Group received a presentation that provided background information on Select Move so that Members could effectively scope the review. A wide range of documentation was also circulated that included, a paper copy of the application form, and a copy of the latest newsletter that advertised all the available properties on the market at that point in time.

Select Move is a Choice Based Letting Partnership that replaced traditional waiting lists. Applicants express their interest with ‘bids’ on a weekly cycle rather than waiting to be allocated a property. The scheme allows choice and promotes sustainable communities as householders are more likely to stay in a property that they have chosen.

The current partnership consists of the three central Lancashire authorities of Chorley, Preston and South Ribble. Along with a number of Registered Providers that are in existence across all three boroughs.

The Partners are governed by a Steering Group that is responsible for the strategic overview of the scheme with senior representative from all the partners attending. An operational Group also meets to discuss and suggest improvement related operational issues and procedures.

Members were informed that the Select Move process was an online product and that the team had started to see a much greater use of the online bidding facility. Applications could either be submitted online or by paper form. Relevant evidence to support the application needed to be supplied upon request and any supporting documentation provided including references if required.

Applicants are banded from A to E dependant on need. A, being urgent and E, being no housing need. Applicants can then bid each week Saturday to Wednesday on newly advertised properties, with shortlisting and allocations being made on Thursday and Friday. Additional checks were sometimes undertaken by the registered providers, including affordability and home visits.

There were no penalties incurred by the customer if they did not accept or pulled out of any allocation.

Customers were able to log on direct, using their individual account details. Any customer could however, still request to be included on a paper mailing list that was distributed on a weekly basis.

Members did have some concerns that the mailing list may not reach people in time; especially in the rural areas and that customers would not have adequate time to bid, with the whole process having to be completed within a week. It was explained that each applicant only needed to complete one paper application form detailing their requirements and need; they could then request Council officers to bid on any property on their behalf. The officers also flagged up certain properties to people who they knew fulfilled the relevant criteria, so that they didn’t miss out on the opportunity. Applicants could opt to choose the provider who manages their application and Members asked if this would lead to inconsistencies in banding in the absence of a prescribed tick list. Officers gave assurances that that the processes everyone undertook where the same and they had confidence that the results would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.TG.3

A blank copy of the relevant scoping document is attached.  The document will be completed to take account of Members’ discussions and submitted to the next meeting for endorsement.

Members discussed several areas where issues had been raised throughout the presentation and these were fed into the scoping of the review.

Objectives

To investigate and evidence whether Select Move is meeting the needs and satisfaction of customers and they are happy with the outcomes.

To gather and understand in more detail information relating to current waiting times including the impact on particular bands/groups of customers and what actions, if any, can be taken to reduce waiting times.

To investigate and evidence all properties being let are in an acceptable standard on handover to the tenant and if not, what if anything can be done to address this.

Desired Outcomes

A choice based lettings service that meets the needs of Chorley residents.

Identify areas of improvement on condition of property at handover.

Reduced waiting times and lists.

Members were keen to ensure that all the seven equality and diversity strands were fully taken into consideration throughout the review and were keen to work effectively in partnership with the registered providers to facilitate any improvements across the board.

AGREED:

That the information be compiled into a draft scoping document in consultation with the Chair for consideration at the next meeting of the group.

That further information where possible is gathered and presented to the next meeting on the breakdown of the waiting list by the seven equality strands; the waiting times by band particularly those banded A and B and client group and to provide the feedback received from the previous survey of customers using Select Move.