Agenda and minutes

4 November 2020 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Policy Development Panel meeting held on 4 November 2020.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

17 November 2020 (copy enclosed)

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel meeting held on 17 November 2020.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

21 January 2021 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel meeting held on 21 January 2021.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

9 February 2021 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel meeting held on 9 February 2021.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest and leave the meeting without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

Consideration was given to the Key Decision Plan dated 22 February 2021.

AGREED:

That the Key Decision Plan be noted.

To note the current Policy Register.

The Panel gave consideration to the Policy Register.

AGREED:

That the Policy Register be noted.

To seek approval of the revised Housing Allocations and Lettings Policy and to advise Members of the consultation process required to implement a new policy (report of the Portfolio Holder for HRA and Private Sector Housing and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) and the Portfolio Holder for HRA and Private Sector Housing, which advised of the consultation process required to implement the new Housing Allocations and Lettings Policy, and sought input from the Panel, prior to its consideration by the Cabinet.

Councils were legally required to have a policy on how they allocated social housing within their district, and it was essential that the Allocations Policy was reviewed regularly to ensure that it met current legislation and case law, and reflected the latest Council priorities.

The aim of the policy was to:

·         Provide an accessible, fair and transparent service;

·         Meet local housing needs;

·         Meet the housing needs of the most vulnerable;

·         Prioritise those with the greatest/most urgent housing needs;

·         Make the best use of existing social housing stock; and

·         Support safe and sustainable communities.

The report detailed the key changes to the proposed new policy.

The Panel thanked officers for the report, and the clarity of the information included within it.

AGREED:

a)    That the recommendation to Cabinet, to adopt the revised Housing Allocations and Lettings Policy, subject to formal consultation with partner Registered Providers, be supported; and

b)      That the recommendation to Cabinet, that amendments to the appendices of the Policy and minor operational amendments following consultation with partner Registered Providers be delegated to the Housing Landlord Services Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for HRA and Private Sector Housing, be supported.

To set out the Work Programme of the Policy Development Panel (report of the Executive Manager Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) enclosed.

The Panel considered a report by the Executive Manager Governance, which set out the work programme of the Panel.  The work programme consisted of two sections, the first setting out the dates of future panel meetings along with proposed items for consideration, and the second setting out Task Groups that had been identified by the Panel.

Members noted that at its meeting on 23 June 2020, the Panel had requested that the Planning Design Task Group undertake further work, as a result of more time becoming available to investigate the issues within its scope.  However, this had not yet occurred, due to potential implications as a result of the Government White Paper on Planning Reform, and a change in the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Strategic Planning.  Clarity was being sought as to the way forward, and to clarify timelines for the work of the Task Group.

AGREED:

That the Work Programme be noted.

There were none.