Decision details

Changes to the Allocations Policy

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

Proposed wording changes to correct grammatical errors and to remove obsolete terminology nominated in the policy.  To ensure that the Allocations Policy aligns with Homeless Reduction Act legislation.

 

Decision:

That:-

 

(a)  the following changes to the Sheffield City Council Allocations Policy are agreed:-

 

  1. That all references to the inactive register are removed;

 

  1. That the descriptive element of the band names is removed in order to eliminate confusion as to their purpose and the level of need of applicants within each band;

 

  1. That the references to homelessness duties are updated to make provision for new legal obligations following the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017;

 

4.    That the provisions relating to succession are updated;

 

  1. That obsolete provision for the demolition and redevelopment scheme at Scowerdons, Weakland and Newstead is removed; and

 

6.    That spelling and other drafting errors are corrected;

(b)  the amendments to the wording of the Sheffield City Council Allocations Policy, set out in Appendix 1 of the report are agreed; and

 

(c)  the implementation of these changes takes effect from 1st July 2020.

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

The recommendations within the report set out proposed amendments to the Sheffield City Council Allocations Policy, which will take account of feedback from both staff and customers. This will ensure the policy is fit for purpose, as well as being clear and consistent.

 

It will also ensure that the Allocations Policy accurately reflects the provisions introduced by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and that provision is made within the policy to encompass the duties and requirements this places upon the Council.

 

 

Alternative options considered:

Option 1 would be to not make changes to the Allocations Policy. This option would not take into account feedback which the Council has received since the implementation of the Allocation Policy. This option would also mean that the Allocations Policy does not reference the duties placed upon the Council by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

 

Option 2 would be to complete a full review of the Allocations Policy. This option was rejected at this time as to do so would require large scale consultation and, as such, would need to form part of a wider project. This option would take a much longer period of time to complete and implement, during which the negative consequences explained in Option 1 would also continue to exist.

 

 

Publication date: 17/07/2020

Date of decision: 17/07/2020

Effective from: 24/07/2020

Accompanying Documents: