The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which outlined the Government’s five year Housing Plan Sustainable Communities: Homes for All, published in January 2005, which set out its plans for taking forward its Choice Based Lettings (CBL) policy. The aim was for all Councils to implement CBL by 2010, and there was a national policy objective to develop sub regional/regional schemes.

It was noted that even though the Council no longer managed any dwellings, it was required to have an allocations policy to ensure that reasonable housing preference was given to households in certain categories of need through its nomination agreements with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). Currently Halton Housing Trust (HHT) managed a joint Council/HHT Housing Register and operated in what most respects was a common allocations policy.

The Board was advised that following on from a Member seminar held on the 27^th November 2008 to agree the key elements of the CBL, this now sought the Board’s agreement to work in partnership with a number of Councils and RSLs across Merseyside to develop a sub-regional CBL scheme.

Members were advised that, traditionally, anyone needing a social rented tenancy applied to a Council or RSL to join a housing register. Priority was determined by a number of means, but typically by date order or the award of points to reflect varying degrees of need. Applicants were invited to indicate their preferred neighbourhoods, but the Council or RSL determined which particular property they would be offered. The applicant’s choice was limited to accepting or refusing the offer.

CBL originated in Holland and, whilst acknowledging that CBL did nothing to solve the housing shortage, it did offer a much more customer focused approach. There were any number of scheme variants but, in essence, they all featured common elements and these elements were outlined in detail in the report.

Members were advised that the most recent data provided by Government suggested that 36% of Councils had already introduced CBL, with a further 59% planning to do so. The Government was also keen to develop CBL schemes on a regional or sub-regional basis, recognising that housing markets did not following local authority boundaries, and had awarded funding to a number of Councils that had sought support in doing this.

The Board was advised that research showed that applicants welcomed the choice, control and transparency of CBL. They also considered that the extra effort required to take part in CBL, by looking through vacancies and bidding for suitable properties, was worth it.

From a landlord’s perspective there had been sustainability related savings and efficiency savings through improved ICT, reduced refusal rates, quicker relets, and demand generated for properties previously considered hard to let. From the Council’s perspective, the existing of one housing register avoided duplication and provided a more accurate indication of housing needs and trends.

The Board was advised that over the last 18 months Officers of the Council and HHT had, in consultation with the larger RSLs in the Borough, undertaken an appraisal of the various CBL options. Those considered were outlined in the report in detail and it was noted that in conclusion, whilst it was not a statutory requirement, the Council could ignore it, but pressure to adopt CLB was likely to be applied through future comprehensive area assessments (CAAs) and Audit Commission inspections. CBL was a very clear Government policy target which was part of the general Government drive to improve choice in the Public Sector. A copy of the policy was attached as an appendix to the report.

Reason(s) for Decision

To address the Government’s policy objective of introducing CBL in all Councils by 2010 in the most cost effective manner.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The various options considered for delivering CBL were described in sections 4 and 5 of the report, together with the rationale for the option recommended.

Implementation Date

The target date for implementation of the Merseyside Sub-Regional CBL Scheme was 2010.

RESOLVED: That

1.      the Board agree to the Council’s participation in the development of the Merseyside Sub-Regional CBL Scheme; and

2.      and that the Council would wish to include some form of local connection criteria in any choice based letting scheme.