Agenda item

As discussed at the ESC-Executive meeting on 9 September 2021, on the housing portfolio, the select committee is provided with an update on housing allocations.

Nicole Smith, Head of Housing, and Emma Legg, Director – Adult Social Care, presented the report on the Housing Allocation Review 2023 to the Committee.

It was explained that the Allocations Policy guided the allocation of social housing across Wiltshire. A full review was last undertaken in 2018 but minor amendments had been made since, the most recent being in January 2023. Officers wanted to make the Policy more transparent and easier to understand alongside ensuring housing those in greatest need, providing realistic expectations of being housed to those joining the Housing Register, and making the best use of Wiltshire Council’s social housing stock. 

Some of the details of the report were highlighted such as a 38% increase in people joining the Housing Register, particularly within the highest priority bands (Band 1 and 2) over the past three years. This was explained as being due to increases in homelessness and relief duties, and job security and house sharing concerns during Covid-19. As a result, practices had been amended to counteract the increase such as the introduction of a system whereby those seeking to join the register or experiencing housing issues liaising with a Housing Case Worker to set out alternative options and to help officers target their limited resource towards those most in need.

Homelessness was then discussed with officers noting the addition of the Tenancy Support Team focussing on preventative work such as aiding residents in increasing their income and backdating any eligible benefits. The demand for temporary accommodation had surged in recent months resulting in the use of B&Bs for the first time in 10 years, however Members were reassured that this option was only for single residents and not families with children. Further reasons for increased temporary accommodation demand were detailed, such as a reduction in lettings from social housing providers partly due to an increase in void properties and difficulties recruiting contractors and surveyors. Additionally, larger properties were the most needed and the hardest to come by, resulting in longer waits for families to be housed, exacerbating the predicament.

During the discussion, points included:

·       Unused and vacant Ministry of Defence (MoD) properties across Wiltshire and the potential to utilise these for temporary accommodation. Officers explained that after previous discussions with the MoD, it was not possible to utilise the properties in such a way, however, the MoD used a specific letting agency that officers could refer clients to for privately rented properties. Furthermore, the MoD had been lobbied by the Government to employ a portion of the vacant stock to support the housing pressures for Ukraine refugees.

·       The number of void properties included in both Wiltshire Council and other social housing providers stock and what could be done to bring them back into use. Officers reiterated the national challenges experienced regarding recruitment issues and difficulties in catching up on the backlog of properties needing assessments.

·       Disjoints between local homeless/rough sleeper charities and Wiltshire Council policies with regard to the provision of immediate aid such as tents, and the cyclical pattern of homelessness that some people become subject to. Officers reiterated the work that Tenancy Sustainment Officers undertook in supporting people to maximise their ability to increase their income. Furthermore, Wiltshire Council officers did not encourage the issuing of tents and instead focused on alternative options through Government initiatives and funding, homeless hostels and the ‘Sit Up Service’. However, officers noted that they worked collaboratively with charities to understand where rough sleepers were situated so they could deploy officers to undertake assessments working on longer term needs and wider housing options.

·       The relationship between housing providers and Wiltshire Council was explored and officers explained that housing associations were not obliged to provide the Council with information respecting the properties they were intending on selling or the number of properties being used at any one time. However, housing associations were required to submit an annual return, the data of which would be publicly available via their individual or Government webpages. Additionally, a Local Authority has the statutory responsibility for rough sleepers so although all relevant organisations work together on preventing homelessness, the ultimate responsibility lies with the Local Authority.

·       Any available properties for let were explained as being advertised on the system, Homes for Wiltshire, where prospective tenants could then submit bids, following which the housing providers would then have access to limited information on those clients in order to provide tenancy.

·       A task and finish group was proposed, and any interested Members were advised to contact the Scrutiny Officer for further information.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Cllr Bob Jones MBE proposed to move the recommendations which was seconded by Cllr Iain Wallis. After which, it was:

Resolved:

a)    The Committee agreed to be involved in the review and development of a new Allocation Policy.

b)    The Committee set up a task and finish group to work with Housing in the development of a revised Allocation Policy.

c)    The Committee noted the most recent statistics for the allocation system.