Issue - meetings

Further to Minute 321 (8 March 2005), received a report on proposed amendments to the Council’s ‘More Choice In Lettings’ (MCIL) housing allocations policy.  The proposed changes have arisen from operational experience since MCIL came into effect on 4 April 2005 and also respond to new legislation and recent guidance from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Discussed issues relating to the inclusion of fostering families in the categories that qualify for priority rehousing and the definition of “persistent rent arrears” in respect of those applicants that would be disallowed from making a bid for a property.

Agreed, in order to ensure that the Council’s MCIL policy best serves the needs of clients and makes best use of the Council’s housing stock, and to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of ‘Improving Health, Housing and Social Care’, to the proposed amendments to the Council’s ‘More Choice In Lettings’ housing allocations policy as set out in the report, subject to a further report on the proposed definition and application of the “persistent rent arrears” bidding disqualification clause.