Issue - meetings

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Jenny Wilkie)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which sought approval for the publication of the Tenancy Strategy 2022-2025.

The minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 21 October 2021 and Landlord Services Committee (Cabinet Working Group) held on 27 October 2021 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details set out in the report before it and the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, set out in Appendix D to the report, and the Landlord Services Committee (Cabinet Working Group) set out in Appendix E, be noted.

                          B.      That the Tenancy Strategy 2022 -2025 attached at Appendix A be approved for consultation purposes.

                          C.      That the Head of Housing & Regulatory Services, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, be given delegated authority to make drafting changes arising from any consultation responses received and publish any such revised and final version of the Tenancy Strategy in February 2022.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 391 to 432 of the Book of Reports which was to seek approval for the publication of the Tenancy Strategy 2022-2025.

The Housing Strategy & Development Programme Manager outlined the report and explained that the introduction of the Tenancy Strategy 2022-2025 is written from the Council's strategic perspective as the Local Housing Authority.  He informed that this would replace the 2013 version of the Strategy, although the core principles of this remain relevant. 

He also explained that the Tenancy Strategy must be given 'due regard' by Registered Providers when publishing their own tenancy policy.

The Consultation will be open to Registered Providers between 15 November 2021 and 9 January 2022.  The Strategy will be published at the end of January 2022.  It was noted that there are 21/22 regulatory providers including WLBC within the Borough.

The Chairman suggested proposed amendments in respect of paragraphs 7.23, 7.26, 7.34 and 7.41 of the Draft Tenancy Strategy 2022-2025, in relation to the perspective of making best use of social housing stock and providing a tenancy with more security of tenure where appropriate and only using flexible tenancies on rare occasions.

RESOLVED: That the Tenancy Strategy 2022-2025 be presented to Cabinet for their consideration.

(Note:  Councillor I Rigby returned to the Chamber at the commencement of this item)