Issue - meetings

To agree the arrangements for performing statutory housing reviews of decisions relating to homelessness and the suitability of temporary accommodation.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the award of a contract for the conduct of reviews of allocation and homelessness decisions to Residential Management Group (RMG) Ltd for a period of 1 year with an option to extend for a further period of 1 year and;

(2)          Nominate and authorise to RMG Ltd the Council’s statutory functions pursuant to the provisions of s166A(9) and s202 of the Housing Act 1996 to perform reviews of decisions made either regarding the suitability of accommodation offered s166A(9) or as the result of a decision upon a request for assistance as homeless s202. And:

(3)          Nominate and authorise to the Strategic Housing Manager the Council’s statutory functions pursuant to the provisions of s166A(9) and s202 of the Housing Act 1996 to perform reviews of decisions made either regarding the suitability of accommodation offered s166A(9) or as the result of a decision upon a request for assistance as homeless s202.

(4)          Nominate and authorise Housing Reviews Ltd to conclude all outstanding cases as per the previous committee report in October.

The Committee received a report on the arrangements for performing statutory housing reviews of decisions relating to homelessness and the suitability of temporary accommodation.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Applicants’ Right to Decision Review. In response to a question from a Member, the Strategic Housing Manager explained that, under s166A(9)  of the Housing Act 1996, applicants have a right to request a review of a decision made by the local housing authority, with respect to their eligibility for allocation to accommodation or their qualification as homeless.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the award of a contract for the conduct of reviews of allocation and homelessness decisions to Residential Management Group (RMG) Ltd for a period of 1 year with an option to extend for a further period of 1 year and;

(2)          Nominate and authorise to RMG Ltd the Council’s statutory functions pursuant to the provisions of s166A(9) and s202 of the Housing Act 1996 to perform reviews of decisions made either regarding the suitability of accommodation offered s166A(9) or as the result of a decision upon a request for assistance as homeless s202. And:

(3)          Nominate and authorise to the Strategic Housing Manager the Council’s statutory functions pursuant to the provisions of s166A(9) and s202 of the Housing Act 1996 to perform reviews of decisions made either regarding the suitability of accommodation offered s166A(9) or as the result of a decision upon a request for assistance as homeless s202.

(4)          Nominate and authorise Housing Reviews Ltd to conclude all outstanding cases as per the previous committee report in October.