Agenda item

Nicole Smith, Head of Strategic Housing, will be in attendance to inform and consult the Area Board regarding the review.

Wiltshire Council is undertaking a full review of its housing allocations policy following the introduction of the Localism Act which has granted new freedoms on the way in which allocation policies are applied.

Nicole Smith, Head of Strategic Housing Wiltshire Council and Julian Payne, Regional Director of Aster Communities were in attendance to present further details on the current allocation system.

The presentation included that the population of Pewsey community area was approximately 13,690.  Of this figure approximately 58% were of working age and 24.1% of retirement age (over 65).  The average house price within the Pewsey area was approximately £300,000.  The basic stock profile of Pewsey was divided as follows:

58.5% Owner Occupied

24.1% Social Housing

9.5% Private

7.9% Other

Further details of the current banding categories of Platinum, Gold Plus, Gold, Silver and Bronze showed that of the 17,088 currently on the housing register 370 households had a first preference for Pewsey, only two of which were in the Platinum category. 

Since April 2012 the total number of lettings across Wiltshire was 611 households, 3 lettings of which were in the Pewsey area and were allocated based on a local connection.

In April 2013 the under occupation ruling would come into force as part of the Welfare Reform measures which, as a result, was likely to affect approximately 63 households in the Pewsey area.  A breakdown of the areas likely to be affected are detailed below:

Alton                                       2          Beechingstoke                     1

Burbage                                 6          Chirton                                   2

Grafton                                   5          Great Bedwyn                       10

Manningford                         2          Milton Lilbourne                   5

Patney                                   1          Pewsey                                  20

Shalbourne                           1          Upavon                                  5

Wilcot                                     1          Wootton Rivers                     2

In relation to Aster Communities, clarification was provided that this was a ‘not for profit’ organisation which had started as Sarsen Housing in 1995 and held over 700 properties in the Pewsey area.

Aster Living was also part of the organisation which was created by bringing all care and support work together.  It was a major provider in Wiltshire through the Help to Live at Home contract. 

Aster Homes was responsible for the building of properties and would be merging with Dorset based Synergy Housing.  They build approximately 350 homes per year which included affordable rent, shared ownership, private sale/rent and extra care.

To demonstrate their commitment to customers and the local communities Customer Boards had been established to ensure that customers were able to contribute towards budgetary discussions. 

Wider issues for the Group included that grant funding subsidies received from central government towards the cost of affordable housing was disappearing.  As a result rent levels had been increased although these were still below the market average.

Following the presentation the Board was asked to vote on their preferences on the future allocation policy the results of which were as follows:

How should Wiltshire Council consider Local Connection?

·         Maintain an open housing register for all                 8

·         A local connection to Wiltshire is required to join    7

·         Priority to those with a local connection to an area24

What is a Local Connection to an area?

·         Employed in the area                                                    15

·         Lives or previously lived in the area                           13

·         Family currently reside in the area                             12

Should additional priorities be given to the following?

·         Under occupation                                                          13

·         Employment                                                                    19

·         Training                                                                           1

·         Those who volunteer in the community                    7

Should we include any exclusions within the policy?

·         Those with no identified housing need                     8

·         Those evicted or caused severe
  Anti Social Behaviour                                                 31

·         Those with significant rent arrears                             2

The Chairman thanked Nicole Smith and Julian Payne for the presentation.