To approve the revised Allocations Policy for Herefordshire.

The allocations policy for Herefordshire has been revised, in the light of the redesign of

arrangements for allocation of social housing and the implementation of the Homelessness

Reduction Act 2017 (HRA). The allocations process which appears elsewhere on the cabinet

agenda today, determines which people in housing need should receive the social housing

available locally. It is a key function within the council’s role as strategic housing authority,

bringing with it various statutory duties.

Under part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) the council is obliged to operate an

allocations policy, although it does not hold any stock, and to revise it from time to time. The

policy has two main functions; to indicate how national and local policy priorities will be met and to describe the practicalities of how housing allocations are organised locally.

The impact of the policy adopted in 2014 on housing register numbers and housing providers’ ability to let their properties, led to a revised policy in 2016. This was intended to re-balance numbers and needs and ensure full statutory compliance. The 2016 policy has not been implemented because providers announced their intention to change the housing allocations arrangements. Those new arrangements have now been negotiated and agreed between the council and providers, for implementation by October 2018.

The allocations policy has been revised accordingly with a focus on the practical process,

although some policy positions are also refined from 2016, along with requirements under the HRA. The new policy will be integral to implementing redesigned arrangements, along with new nominations agreements with providers and a recommissioned IT system, which are the subject of separate governance decisions.

That:

(a) the Allocations Policy for Herefordshire at appendix 1 be approved for implementation at the earliest opportunity.

1.    Not to revise the allocations policy, but implement the 2016 policy without amendment. This option is not recommended as it would not reflect agreed changes to operational arrangements for housing allocations and therefore would not comply with statutory requirements, generally or specifically, with regard to the new Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA).

2.     Not to revise the allocations policy and continue to operate the 2014 policy. This option is not recommended as it would not allow the council to comply with allocations law, nor the HRA. Neither would it address some unmet housing need and increasing incidence of hard to let properties, which have arisen from the 2014 policy.