The Director of Housing submitted a report to Cabinet to request that Cabinet  recommend to Council approval of the updated new Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.

2.    Recommend to Council to approve and adopt the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.

3.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, authority to update the Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy with minor amendments to keep the documents up to date with any future changes in legislation, regulations, governance and best practice.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.
2. Recommend to Council to approve and adopt the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, authority to update the Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy with minor amendments to keep the documents up to date with any future changes in legislation, regulations, governance and best practice.

The Director of Housing submitted a report to Cabinet to request that Cabinet recommend to Council approval of the updated new Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.

Councillor Linda Smith presented the report. She noted the differences between the tenancy strategy and tenancy policy. She said both reflect their key priorities regarding the provision of affordable housing in the City. She noted that the report sets out that this is not just about tenants and immediate homes, but also about addressing issues in the broader community and providing good quality neighbourhoods for tenants. 

Stephen Cohen, Refugee and Resettlement Manager, said that the tenancy strategy sets out the Council’s expectations for registered providers in the City. He said that the strategy seeks to ensure that registered providers are in line with the Council’s priorities and wider objectives. He said that the strategy has been brought into line with new legislation. He noted that the Tenancy Policy was for Oxford City Council tenants and sets out their policy as a social housing landlord.

Councillor Hollingsworth noted the risks flagged in an earlier report in relation to social housing regulation. He asked if this report related to that risk.

Nerys Parry, Director of Housing, said that it was part of the issue. She said that this was contributary work towards their compliance with standards.

Councillor Brown asked how they would enforce the principles with other registered providers, as some housing associations fail to meet their responsibilities as social landlords. 

The Director of Housing responded that they have regulatory powers to enforce on specific matters. She said that they were required to lead in the collaborative effort with registered providers and that they needed to pull their collaborative work into one place and focus their conversations. The Director of Housing outlined the work they would be doing to achieve this aim in the new year and that there was still work to be done in this area, but it was being addressed.

Councillor Smith added that the registered providers in Oxford had been consulted on this report and had been involved in its construction.

Councillor Brown thanked the team for their work in this area and said that it was good to hear how they were continuing to establish better cooperation and enforcement measures.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.
2. Recommend to Council to approve and adopt the draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy.
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, authority to update the Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy with minor amendments to keep the documents up to date with any future changes in legislation, regulations, governance and best practice.