Cabinet resolved:
(i) To approve the following changes to the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy:
(a) The introduction of a 10-year residential requirement for all new applications to be placed on the Housing Register;
(b) The excluding of applications to the Housing Register from those who meet the residential criteria but have no housing need and no realistic prospects of re-housing;
(c) That a reasonable preference category (priority) be awarded to those applicants who are in paid employment and in housing need;
(d) That flexible tenancies of a minimum of two years may be granted in certain circumstances, as outlined in paragraph 2.6 of the report;
(e) That the Council may discharge its duty to homeless households by securing private rented accommodation, rather than retaining a full housing duty until a long term social rented home becomes available; and
(ii) That the above changes to the Housing Allocations Policy apply to all new applications received from 1 September 2014.