FIFE COUNCIL

Levenmouth Area Committee

((DATE ))2009

Agenda Item No.

FIFE HOUSING ALLOCATIONS POLICY REVIEW -

REVISED AREA LETTINGS PLANS

1.0 Introduction

1.1 In November 2008 the Housing and Communities Committee approved the final drafts of the Allocations Policy and Transfer Policy. A key part of the implementation of the Policies is the need for a clear and robust local framework to implement the policy. Therefore a further key recommendation of the Allocations Policy Review Group was the re-development and revised focus on the Area Lettings Plan framework, content and process.

1.2 This report sets out the general framework for Area Lettings Plans and the revised plan for Levenmouth area is appended to this Report. The Plan sets out the general housing context along with specific areas of activity identified as Community Lettings Initiatives. Members are asked to consider and endorse the attached Plan and its associated Implementation objectives which will direct lettings activity in the area for 2009/10.

2.0 Area Lettings Plan Context

2.1 The Council's Revised Housing Allocation Policy and new Transfer Policy sets out the policy framework for ensuring that Fife Council's operational delivery is legally compliant and integrated with other Council priorities within the Increasing Access to Housing agenda and other council priorities.

2.2. Area Lettings Plans are developed within the constraints and requirements of the Policies, but enable localised implementation of the Policy. In 2009/10 the Council has moved away from 23 Locality Lettings Plans to 7 Area Lettings Plans in order to;

2.3. The Fife Allocations Policy is based on a quota system to provide housing opportunities for a range of housing circumstances. Through the Quota system the Policy sets out, in general terms, the proportion of allocations to Homeless People, existing Council tenants and first time applicants and these have been strategically agreed through the Allocations Policy Review process. Area Lettings Plans provide the facility for more in-depth analysis of local housing stock provision and demand profiles to pro-actively plan allocations. Within this environment, areas have a degree of flexibility to alter the quotas locally provided that the overall Fife Wide Quotas are met.

2.4 Community Lettings Initiatives (CLI's) are a key feature of the Area Lettings Plan framework. CLI's are usually identified around geographical areas of housing pressure or difficulty where specific allocations approaches can contribute to addressing the issues or in assisting the council to meet wider priorities. The CLI's must operate within the Allocations policy but enable a more sensitive approach to be adopted as appropriate to the local circumstances. They are regarded as specialist allocations approaches therefore need to be formally agreed by Committee.

2.5 Area Lettings Plans are established as the delivery mechanism of the Fife Allocations Policy since the early pilots carried out in 2002/03 in certain parts of Fife, however, historically monitoring and audit of the plans has not been suitably resourced. The new plans are subject to a revised Audit and Quality Assurance Framework which will ensure that allocations activity is regularly monitored, analysed and used to inform future service delivery. As part of the revised management approach, Area Committee's will receive regular quarterly reports and will be required to direct Area Letting Plan, and specifically, Community Lettings Initiative progress.

3.0 Consultation

3.1 The re-development of the Area Lettings Plans are based on a commitment to comprehensive consultation at local level with all areas required to complete and submit a Consultation Report. The requirement to consult has been managed differently across Fife but Members should be assured that all reasonable measures have been taken to consult through local elected members, with tenants and residents groups as well as involving other interested bodies to influence the final plan.

4.0 Conclusion

4.1 Area Lettings Plans are highly influential in ensuring that the Council's Housing Allocations Policy is understood and effectively implemented at a local level. They provide the mechanism for direct action where allocations activity can assist in addressing wider community based issues and enable elected members as well as other key interest groups to play a direct role in managing the council's housing stock. The establishment of the revised management framework, will ensure that members have greater re-assurance that the policy is being implemented appropriately and that the council is making the best use of it's housing stock with regard to local supply and demand pressures.

5.0 Recommendation

5.1 Members are asked to endorse the draft Area Lettings Plan and the Community Lettings Initiatives identified within the Plan.

Derek Muir

Head of Housing

Report Authors

John Mills

Senior Manager (Housing Management & Homelessness)

Norman Laird

Senior Manager, Local Services Network