Issue - meetings

The report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services presents a refresh of the council's policy for allocation social housing in Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Housing agrees:

(1)  To accept the new Housing Allocation Scheme.

(2)  To delegate authority to the Director for Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to agree any future minor amendments to the scheme.  This will be reported to councillors through the Members' Information Service and added to the published scheme documents.

Cabinet Member for Housing agreed:

(1)  To accept the new Housing Allocation Scheme.

(2)  To delegate authority to the Director for Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to agree any future minor amendments to the scheme.  This will be reported to councillors through the Members' Information Service and added to the published scheme documents.

Elaine Bastable, Head of Housing Options, presented the report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services. This represented a refresh of the policy and further minimal changes would be published when required via the Members' Information Service under the delegated powers of the Director. Section 4 of the report set out the changes that had been required, including links to the Armed Forces Covenant, Equalities Impact Assessment and updated information from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA of 2016).

CLG representative Adrian Blackwood gave his comments relating to his own personal experience of being assessed and more generally about some disabilities not being obvious ones, and he questioned why an application form was no longer used for which he felt doctors could have input.

Elaine Bastable explained the medical assessment process which sought to ascertain if an individual's current accommodation was unsuitable, and an independent review officer was involved.  

Councillor Sanders, as Cabinet Member for Housing, explained that whilst individual circumstances could not be looked at here, the wider implications of medical input and "hidden" disabilities, such as mental health, would be kept under review.

Maria Cole of the Residents' Consortium also asked about why the qualifying age was set at 18 when some married at 16?  Elaine Bastable responded that legally a tenancy could not be held under 18 years of age, but PCC do provide some supported housing for 16-18 year olds and under 18s were considered in exceptional circumstances.

Councillor Coles (Labour Spokesperson) was pleased to see the inclusion of veterans and appreciated it could be a hard transition for ex-service personnel.

Councillor Sanders Cabinet Member for Housing, queried the use of data from 2016 (the latest JSNA) and requested that officers keep abreast of new data and with this in mind and in welcoming the link to the Armed Forces Covenant he anticipated a minor amendment coming forward soon regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He noted the consultations on this and rough sleepers and homeless accommodation.  Councillor Sanders had read and noted the comments from the Homelessness Working Group, which included reference to pets of rough sleepers which Elaine Bastable explained did not come under the allocations policy but was covered by the landlord rules for properties by both PCC and social landlords.

DECISIONS - The Cabinet Member for Housing agreed:

(1)       To accept the new Housing Allocation Scheme.

(2) To delegate authority to the Director for Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to agree any future minor amendments to the scheme.  This will be reported to councillors through the Members' Information Service and added to the published scheme documents.