Issue - meetings
Bishop's Stortford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
Meeting: 05/08/2014 - Executive (Item 173)
173 Housing Register Policy - Review 
PDF 178 KB
Additional documents:
- Housing Register policy - ERP A (implications), item 173
PDF 102 KB
- Housing Register policy - ERP B (village connection), item 173
PDF 80 KB
- Housing Register policy - ERP C (income qualification), item 173
PDF 33 KB
- Webcast for Housing Register Policy - Review
Decision:
That the views of Community Scrutiny Committee be supported in that no policy changes in respect of ‘village priority procedure’ or ‘salary threshold’ be made at this time.
Minutes:
The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support submitted a report reviewing the Housing Register and Allocations policy.
The Executive recalled that the policy had been agreed in March 2013, on the basis that two specific issues be reviewed after a year. These issues related to village priority/community cohesion in respect of the proposed threshold on settlements with over 1000 residents and the salary threshold of £48,000 for accessing the register.
The Community Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 24 June 2014, reviewed these issues and concluded that no policy changes were needed at this time.
The Executive Member for Finance expressed his disappointment with the conclusion reached by the Community Scrutiny Committee. He reiterated his previous view that the salary threshold was too high and that it should be reduced, in order to give greater priority for applicants on a lower income. He suggested that a scaled threshold of £35k for a one-bed property, £40k for a two-bed property and £48k for a three-bed property would be more appropriate.
The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support questioned whether such a scaled threshold would be too complicated to administer. However, she undertook to ask Officers to consider this further. The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport reminded Members that the policy included a Limited Means Points award for applicants on benefits or low incomes.
In response to a question a from Councillor J Wing relating to the impact of the spare room subsidy, The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support commented that additional properties would be coming on stream this year which should ease the problem of “bedroom blockage”
The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support undertook to respond to Councillor J Ranger’s question on whether working in a village qualified as a village connection.
After being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, the recommendation now detailed, were approved.
RESOLVED - that the views of Community Scrutiny Committee be supported in that no policy changes in respect of ‘village priority procedure’ or ‘salary threshold’ be made at this time.
Meeting: 24/06/2014 - Community Scrutiny Committee (Item 61)
61 Housing Register Policy - Review PDF 168 KB
Additional documents:
- East Herts Housing Register Policy ERP A (Implications), item 61
PDF 102 KB
- East Herts Housing Register Policy ERP B (Policy for Applicants with Village Connection), item 61
PDF 79 KB
Minutes:
The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support submitted a report reviewing the Housing Register and Allocations policy adopted by the Council in 2013. The Manager, Housing Services, provided a summary of the report, and a detailed analysis of the effect of village priority procedure and the salary threshold for qualification on the Housing Register. It was noted that the report was not being submitted to the Executive on 1 July 2014.
In response to a query from Councillor P Moore the Manager, Housing Services explained the background and calculation of affordable and social rents. She also explained how housing benefit might be factored into the process.
In response to a query from Councillor S Bull concerning priority to serviceman or ex-servicemen affected by trauma, the Manager, Housing Services explained that such individuals were given additional preference including their bereaved families. There were three such individuals on the East Herts’ register.
Councillor K Warnell expressed concern at the salary threshold level (of £48,000). The Manager, Housing Services explained that this figure was one of the lowest, citing examples of income bars used by other neighbouring authorities and Registered Social Housing Providers (for inclusion on the housing register). She explained how the assessment criteria was applied.
The Manager, Housing Services provided an explanation in response to a query from Councillor M Wood, regarding fluctuations in the number of households registered on the housing register following a recent re-registration process.
The Committee received the report.
RESOLVED – that (A) the report be noted; and
(B) the Executive be advised that no policy changes in respect of “village priority procedures” or “salary threshold” are needed at this time.
Meeting: 19/11/2013 - Community Scrutiny Committee (Item 363)
363 Implementation of the Adopted East Herts Housing Register Policy PDF 95 KB
Additional documents:
- East Herts Housing Register Policy ERP A, item 363
PDF 95 KB
- East Herts Housing Register Policy ERP B, item 363
PDF 124 KB
Minutes:
The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support submitted a report advising Members that all Local Authorities which exercised a housing function must publish a Housing Register and Allocations Policy which detailed how homes would be allocated to applicants and prescribed certain categories of people who were to be given ‘reasonable preference’ on the Housing Register.
The Housing Services Manager advised that the current Housing Register and Allocations Policy had been adopted by the Council in April 2013 and implemented from 1st May 2013 for all new applicants wishing to join the Council’s Housing Register and be considered for an allocation of affordable housing in East Herts.
The Executive meeting of 5 March 2013 had recommended adoption of the revised Housing Register and Allocations Policy, so long as there was an impact review undertaken within 6 months, with a full review of the policy being submitted to Community Scrutiny Committee after a year.
Members were advised that, since 1 May 2013, the Housing Options Service had advertised and allocated 127 general needs, un-adapted properties for rent through Choice Based Lettings. Of these properties, 13 had met the criteria for being advertised with a village connection priority and one had no bids over 100 points and two had the top ranked applicants as having a connection to the village, so in these three cases the policy was not applicable.
Members agreed that the small number of cases so far did not give enough evidence to suggest any change to this aspect of the policy at this time.
Members were also advised that the housing associations were keen to ensure that not all of their residents were on housing benefits to assist with the payment of rent. It was therefore recommended that the household salary bar of £48,000 should not be amended at this time because of the introduction of affordable rents and in the interest of balancing communities.
The Housing Services Manager reminded Members that the figure would be subject to annual review, so that the annual average income levels for East Herts residents could be assessed again at the appropriate time.
The Committee received the report.
RESOLVED – that (A) the outcome of the review be received; and
(B) the salary threshold for qualification to the Housing Register be held at £48,000 and the Village Connection Policy remain as detailed in the adopted Housing Register and Allocations Policy.