Agenda and minutes

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted that there were no substitute members.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

The Panel noted that there were no declarations of interest.

Attached.

The minutes from the last meeting were noted and agreed.

To note the Terms of Reference for this Panel.

The Terms of Reference and Work Programme were noted.

(Head of Housing Services) To consider the attached reports. Please note paragraph 4 of the covering Scrutiny report, which points out that the draft Specification is to be circulated separately in advance of the meeting.

The Panel considered the draft Specification for the implementation of the Choice Based Lettings Scheme. The Panel also considered a draft Portfolio Holder report on Choice Based Lettings proposing to authorise the Head of Housing Services to agree the final version of the specification.

The Assistant Head of Housing Services took the Panel through the background of this scheme. The Council has agreed to work in partnership with five other local authorities, creating a consortium of six authorities, Brentwood BC, Broxbourne DC, Chelmsford BC, East Herts DC, Epping Forest DC and Uttlesford DC. The scheme is based around a website and a free sheet being distributed every two weeks, which would advertise any vacancies in the housing stock of the relevant authorities. The people on the housing register could then express their interest in any property advertised. The expressions of interest are then analysed and prioritised by an external Choice Based Lettings Agency. The next website update and issue of the free sheet will then show the properties allocated and any background information associated with it. It was noted that:

• It was too early to determine whether there would be any staffing implications associated with this; the Choice Based Letting Agency would in theory handle most of this work and once the scheme had been operating six months to a year the staffing implications could be analysed.
• Each authority would continue to have its own Allocation Scheme, which the Choice Based Lettings Agency would apply.
• A tenant could apply to go on another Council’s list, but were more likely to get something from their own Council as they would be higher on their list.
• The website and free sheets could and will be used to put other relevant information in each advert such as distance from the nearest rail station and the local bus routes.
• Also available on the website and with the free sheet will be a User Guide.
• Each of the six authorities will have a Memorandum of Understanding amongst themselves and individual contracts with the Choice Based Letting Agency, if one of them wants to leave the consortium then it would not affect the others, although these agreements would make it difficult for a council to leave.
• When the scheme starts each tenant will get a pack explaining how it works and how to express an interest in the properties advertised.
• The current target date for implementation of this scheme is 1^st June 2007, although officers consider this optimistic.
• The Choice Based Letting Agency would let the Council have a whole range of management reports including identifying any vulnerable applicants who may not be participating.
• The system will also report back on any ineligible bids to officers.

The Panel were happy that the Head of Housing Services agree final changes to the specifications in conjunction with the Housing Portfolio Holder, and amended Recommendation 2 of the Portfolio Holder’s report accordingly. The recommendation would now read:

“That, following any requested changes made by the partner authorities in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To consider which reports are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

The Choice Based Letting Scheme to be reported to the next Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting.

To consider the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel. They are:

31 October 2006

30 January 2007

30 April 2007.

The next meetings of the Housing Scrutiny Standing Panel are:

31 October 2006,

30 January 2007, and

30 April 2007.