Agenda and minutes

The Director of Independent Living submitted details of proposed amendments to the Allocation Policy as a result of learning from the first 3 months of the new Policy which had been launched on 1^st December, 2008.

Since its launch, the Policy has been closely monitored by the Housing Assessment Panel and, as a result of learning from recent cases, there were now several proposals for amendments.  The reasons for the proposed changes were set out in the report submitted.

Resolved:-  That the following Allocation Policy revisions be approved:-

(1)  Applicants can be considered by the Housing Assessment Panel for the Priority Plus Group where they have been referred by the Assessment Team due to an urgent move being required because a member of the household had been diagnosed to be terminally ill.

(2)  Households awarded Priority Plus status be offered “Like for Like properties”.  If the property offered was a different type to their original transfer application, the applicant be allowed to retain their original application date in the General Group.  Offers would only be made to properties that the household was eligible for.

(3)  Time limits of 28 days be given to all applicants in the Priority Plus Group.  If the applicant had not made a request and suitable properties had been available, the Priority Plus status be cancelled.

(4)  Households living in temporary accommodation (statutory homeless) who were not actively bidding (without any apparent good reason within a 28 days period), will be made an offer of suitable accommodation.  This will be a final offer of accommodation within the meaning of Section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 and would be made in discharge of the Council’s duty to homeless persons under that Section of the Act.  For the purpose of this provision, the phrase ‘actively bidding’ means submitting bids for suitable available properties with the genuine intent of securing that available property.

(5)  “Aged Persons” accommodation can be allocated to people under 60 assessed as needing bungalow provision on the grounds of evidenced medical conditions.  This would apply only where there were no other persons over the age of 60 requiring the accommodation.  The provision of Rothercare remains a condition of the tenancy.  The properties would remain exempt for the Right to Buy.

(6)  Offenders who wished to voluntarily terminate their Council tenancy on sentencing if their sentence is more than 6 months, the Housing Assessment Panel would consider the voluntary termination and would determine whether there was any level of priority that needed to be awarded 1 month prior to release.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods presented a report on behalf of 2010 Rotherham Ltd. seeking approval to award the contracts for the financial year 2009/10 to the refurbishment and window/door contractors in accordance with the Framework Agreement in place to deliver the Decent Homes Programme.

Resolved:-  That the Decent Homes contracts for the financial year 2009/10 be approved as follows:-

(1)        Refurbishment Works

            Keepmoat                   £19,905,394

            Henry Boot                  £15,220,358

(2)        Windows and Doors

            Anglian Windows        £3,883,780

            Yorkshire Windows    £4,616,220