Issue - meetings

1.

Title of Item/Report

Common Allocation Policy (Tees Valley Lettings Partnership)

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the Common Allocation Policy (Tees Valley Lettings Partnership).

The members of the Tees Valley Lettings Partnership included Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees borough councils, Beyond Housing and North Star.  The partners work collaboratively to let social and affordable rent properties in accordance with an agreed Common Allocation Policy (CAP).  The CAP detailed how people register and bid for homes through the Partnership’s choice-based lettings platform (Tees Valley Home Finder).

Faced with rising demand for social/affordable rented housing, it was essential that the CAP remains relevant, adheres to national policy and, vitally, meets our local housing needs.  To ensure the Council had a policy that was fair, clear and helps those who need social/affordable housing most, the Partnership had recently undertaken a review of the current CAP.  The review was informed by consultation with applicants registered on Tees Valley Home Finder, key partners and stakeholders.  Following the conclusion of the CAP consultation exercise, Members are asked to approve the proposed new CAP at Appendix A of the report. 

RESOLVED that the recent consultation exercise recently undertaken to inform an updated Tees Valley Common Allocation Policy (as detailed in paragraphs 4-6 of this report) be noted and the proposed new Common Allocation Policy (Appendix A of the report) be approved.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

Whilst the Council is not a stock-holding local authority, we are required to operate an Allocation Policy and a housing register.  In Stockton-on-Tees, we operate a CAP and housing register in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Beyond Housing North Star (the Tees Valley Lettings Partnership members).  All members of the Partnership are committed to working collaboratively to ensure a fair and transparent Common Allocation Policy.  The recent CAP review was undertaken to ensure that the housing needs of residents across the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees are met.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight Monday 28 April 2025