northlincs.gov.uk

66  (65)  CONSULTATION ON ALLOCATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING – The Director of Neighbourhood and Environment Services submitted a report to advise of the Government’s consultation on guidance to be issued to local authorities on the allocation of social housing, seek the views of elected members and initiate consultations with the council’s partners in the Home Choice Lincs choice based lettings scheme.

It was explained that the Government was consulting on new draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England. The new guidance was intended to assist authorities to take advantage of the provisions in the Localism Act 2011 which would give local authorities the freedom to once again manage their own waiting lists, and make it easier for them to move existing social tenants to more suitable accommodation.  It was anticipated that this would ensure that social homes went to people who needed and deserved them the most.

The council had a joint allocations policy with the other members of the Home Choice Lincs partnership.  The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services sought approval whether to respond to the consultation on behalf of the Home Choice Lincs partnership or for the council to make its own independent response.

Resolved – (a) That the views of the cabinet member be noted and included in the response to the consultation document, and (b) that the council comments directly to government in response to the consultation document.

The following items contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

67  (66)  REGULATORY SERVICES REVIEW – The Director of Neighbourhood and Environment Services submitted a report seeking approval for a revised structure for Regulatory Services which would enable a more flexible and customer centred service to Neighbourhood Response team issues and Regulatory Function, and to propose changes to staffing arrangements in line with approved budget targets.

A structural review had been completed in order to properly integrate the teams that performed the regulatory function, to respond to internal and external pressures and expectations and to deliver the required budgetary savings as outlined at a meeting of the Council held on 23 February 2011.

Resolved – (a) That the revised structure for Regulatory Services as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved; (b) that the structure be implemented on 1 April 2012, or as soon as practicable thereafter, and (c) that the posts deleted and the posts created as detailed in paragraphs 2.10 and 2.12 of the report be approved.

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Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.