Minutes:
The Task Group welcomed Andy Gale to the Task Group, he provided a brief synopsis of his work across the country working on allocation policieis and highlighted potential changes to the upcoming allocations policy, updated from 2018.
It was explained that every Council was legally required to have an allocations policy regardless if the Council maintained housing stock or not. The allocations policy ruiled who was able to join the register and who got housed.
The allocation policy was previously updated in 2018.
More people were on the Select Move register than available lettings. With 2189 households on the register in Chorley. It was reaffirmed that it was 2189 households and not individuals, the figure included families in addition to singles. In the 2021/22 financial year, Select Move housed 1072 households. It was deemed to be a good figure, some Councils were unable to house a sixth or eighth of households on the list.
The changes that were proposed would have to be approved by all three councils in addition to the Housing Associations that are a part of Select Move.
Banding
Select Move categoried its list into five bands from A to E. This was unusual as most councils have three or four.
It was explained that there was a common misconception with the housing list, as it there had not been a traditional housing waiting list since 1935, however, it was a register of need. This was a potential point of frustration for those that have been on the list for a period of time banded below A or B.
There were rules that the Council had to adhere to, and there were rules that the Council could change, such as the extent of local conction, income limits, rules around unacceptable behaciour, barriers around rent arrears.
A 5 band system was unusual, most councils operate three or four, with some on a two band system.
Members raised about the grounds of medical obility was baneded as B, and felt that it should be Band A. Andy agreed that the medical issues were unclear and open to interpretation.
In terms of overcrowding as a Band B, the measure was from the bedroom standard, while looking at the ages, genders and number of children in each room.
It was understood that from an outside perception, the view of the banding and waiting list was unfair, but it was a register of need, and not a waiting list, people did not queue for a house, but allocation was based on need not time.
Members agreed that a three band system would appear simpler. And more user friendly, which was a significant goal of the task group to ensure that the rocess was as simple, and easy to understand as possible.
Quotas
There were quotas in place for bands A to D, every applicant in every band was able to apply for any property, but the band that was quotaed had priority. It was potentially possible for a band C applicant to be prioritised over a band A
A potential choice offered was to remove the quotas for the bands which would increase pressure to house homeless and temporary accommodation, although would increase the numbers housed in the higher bands, with those in the lower bands, less likely to be homed. The purpose of the banding quottas was to allow a mix of tenant in peoperites, but with or without the banding quotas, there would not be an increase of houses on Select Move.
Local Housing Register
Current policy was that anyone can register, and then given a band between A to E. 50% of councils in England have screpped open registeres. The thought was that those that were in a lower need and a lower band were unlikely to obtain a house, yet the same checks and verification was required which required Officer capacity. The choice to have an open housing register was not a partisan issue nor a political one.
Members agreed that Chorley should remain with an open list and that everyone has the right to apply for the housing register and believed that being perceived as selective would be damaging to the system and the council, and give the perception that the council wanted to prevent access to the register.
Local Connection
It was known that local connection was a common concern with residents and users of select move, some Members hfelt that it was too generous There was leeway available for the council to tighten or loosen the local connection criteria. In Chorley, those that have been in the area for six of the previous 12 months were eligible. A significant number of councils follow government guidance and required two years of residency, there were also councils that required five years of residency. Officers have considered raising it from suix months to two years.
Questions to be considered when setting residency requirements was if it met the local need.
Questions were raised about those that were employed in chorley and the distance of commute, was 16 hours a week enough to qualify. Consideration was given that a commute had to be greater than an hour to qualify.
Members highlighted that it wasn’t the length of time someone was in the area, but if the local connection was just for Chorley to be housed in Chorley, or was in one of three partnered local authorities. It was cponfriemd that it was a local connection to Chorley to live in Chorley. Each application required to be verified.
Offers
A change considered was the number of reasonable offers that people have before a penalty, at present, three offers could be refused before being removed for 12 months. It was understood that some decided to window shop before bidding. The refusal of offers result in properties being empty for longer. Most councils allow two offers.
It was said that all applications were initially sorted by a computer, but an officer verified each application, from those applications with desperate need and those with little or no chance of being housed.
Members believed that it would be best to keep it at three and prevent pressure to bid under threat of losing banding. There were instances where properties had over 100 bids and did not believe that not bidding would have a negative impact on the housing provider.
Within the policy enforced by the housing partners if an applicant didn’t reply within two days then the offer could be withdrawn. It would be unlikely for this to change.
Eligibility
Members raised concern that those with over £30,000 in savings were unable to join select move, and it was quested if this impacted older people and those with more extensive housing needs. It was clarified that it was amount saved and assets greater than 30,000 and household gross income of £60,000. The figure of £30,000 was considered high for councils in England, and the usual figure f savings was capped at £16,000
Homeowners were currently exempt from Select Move unless there was a physical need that their current house could not provide the needs they require.
Recommendations
Take effort to simplify the banding
Ensure that the register remained open for all residents of Chorley.