Issue details
Proposed redesign of the Allocations arrangements for Herefordshire
To approve the proposed redesign of the allocations arrangements for Herefordshire.
The council has a range of statutory obligations in relation to allocations, although as it holds no
housing stock, the direct control of lettings to tenants rests with social housing landlords.
Current arrangements for allocations are managed through Home Point, which is a single
integrated form of choice based lettings system (CBL) where applicants on the housing register
bid for social housing. Providers have indicated their wish to move away from an integrated
system and to manage more of the process themselves.
Following discussions with providers, an agreed approach has been identified for the redesign of
allocations. It involves each provider making their own arrangements for advertising properties
and managing lettings. The council will operate the register, monitor how housing need is met by
lettings and transfer data to providers so that customers can either be nominated directly for
properties or bid for them on provider websites.
The anticipated benefits include:
choice for customers who will be able to apply both to the council and directly to the
providers;
more information about the different tenures available within the housing stock of
providers including private market rental and low cost home ownership;
better access to information through more modern and interactive technology;
more effective monitoring of the nomination arrangements and the council’s statutory
duties;
flexibility for providers to try to ensure that all their housing stock is fully let.
The council’s role will be focused more specifically on fulfilling its statutory duties around
allocations. The separation of component parts of the process requires new and more complex solutions for data transfer and the council is commissioning a new IT system to support this which has been the subject of a separate decision. The council will also have to operate two different nomination/transfer arrangements to reflect the different approaches of two groups of providers. There will be nomination agreements between the council and each provider to help regulate arrangements,following dissolution of the Home Point partnership
There is a detailed project plan and process to support the changes and it is intended that they will be implemented between October and December 2018. The allocations redesign, if
approved, would also require the further revision of the allocations policy adopted in March 2016 and an item on this issue appears elsewhere on the cabinet agenda today.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Strategic nature / impact on communities;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 24/01/2018
Decision due: 12 April 2018 by Cabinet
Lead member: Cabinet member finance and corporate services
Lead director: Director for adults and wellbeing (Historic)
Department: Adults wellbeing (Historic)
Contact: Ewen Archibald, Interim Assistant Director, All Ages Commissioning Email: Ewen.Archibald@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 261970.
Decisions
Agenda items
- 12/04/2018 - Cabinet Proposed redesign of the Allocations arrangements for Herefordshire 12/04/2018
Documents
- Proposed redesign of the Allocations arrangements for Herefordshire