This report reminds the Board that it agreed to consultation upon changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme at its meeting in February 2013.  The report asks the Board to approve a new Housing Allocations Scheme following consultation.  Specifically, it recommends the Board to:-

(1)  Note the proposed changes to the existing Allocation Scheme and responses to consultation:

(2)  Recommend Council to approve the new Allocation Scheme;

(3)  Give delegated authority to the Head of Housing and Property to introduce the new Allocations Scheme within three months of its approval by Council (in order to allow time to implement the changes);

(4)  To agree to the Council leaving the Oxfordshire sub-regional Choice-Based Lettings Scheme.

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning the Allocations Review and changes to the Allocations Scheme.

Councillor Scott Seamons presented this report to the Board and explained the background to it. He added that the Oxfordshire sub-regional Choice Based Lettings scheme was in effect disbanded because there were now different schemes in place across the County. Arrangements for reciprocal lettings were, and would remain, in place.

Scrutiny recommendation

A Communications Strategy should be in place to explain the scheme as agreed, what it means for the applicants, alongside some general information on the likelihood of being housed. Communications should include the opportunity for feedback on the scheme itself and the understandability of it.

Agreed by the Board.

The following amendment to the scheme was also AGREED by the Board, following comments from the Scrutiny Housing Panel:-

(1)  Section 1.3 Oxford City Council’s Principal Housing Objectives (agenda page 103, bottom of the page)

Changed from:

•      To not discriminate against members of the armed forces/former members of the armed forces in housing need, with regard to local connection

To:

•      To treat members of the armed forces/former members of the armed forces in housing need, equally with regard to local connection (see section 3.3.3)”

(2)  Section 3.3:  Qualification For Inclusion On the General Register List (agenda pages 112, 113)

Added:

“5. The applicant met one or more of the criteria in 1 to 4 above at the time they entered the armed forces, they will then retain this Local Connection when applying for housing on leaving the Armed Forces.”  & “in accordance with Section 3.4” at the end of each paragraph shown in Sections 3.3.3 & 3.3.4.

Resolved to:-

(1)  Note the proposed changes to the existing Allocation Scheme and responses to consultation;

(2)  Recommend Council to approve the new Allocations scheme (as amended above);

(3)  Give delegated authority to the Head of Housing and Property to introduce the new Allocations Scheme within three months of its approval by Council (in order to allow time to implement the changes);

(4)   To agree to the Council leaving the Oxfordshire sub-regional Choice Based Lettings Scheme.