Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Dean Cohen.

None.

Details are appended of the questions asked of, and the answers given by the Chairman. Verbal responses were given to supplementary questions at the meeting.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet notes the content of this report which outlines a draft proposed Equalities Policy and plan to promote Community Cohesion entitled ‘Communities Together’.

2.    That Cabinet agrees to a period of consultation on the attached proposed Equalities Policy in Appendix A. Cabinet is also asked to agree that the Leader signs off the final version of the Equalities Policy by way of DPR following consultation.

3.    That Cabinet approves the approach outlined in the ‘Communities Together’ Plan in Appendix B.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

1.    Cabinet requests full Council to note the content of this report which outlines governance arrangements and activity as it relates to the Council and partners’ safeguarding responsibilities.

2.    That Cabinet notes the progress made in relation to safeguarding since last year.

3.    That Cabinet requires an annual report on safeguarding to continue to be submitted to Cabinet and Council.

4.    That Cabinet requires that safeguarding across the Council and partners continues to be strengthened through the full engagement of all providers of health services, including through the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Councillor Hugh Rayner presented the views and recommendations of the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cabinet also heard representations from Councillor Julie Johnson and Councillor Brian Salinger. Questions were asked following each representation and verbal answers were given in the meeting.

Cabinet considered the recommendations put forward by the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cabinet noted that the Allocations Policy as detailed in the report set out the rationale behind the change to one offer only which aimed to both address the ‘people’ issue of delays to finding suitable accommodation for those in most need, and the ‘cost’ issue of the increasing difficulty of procuring accommodation in the private sector at Local Housing Allowance rates. It was noted that a comprehensive consultation exercise had been undertaken on the Policy, but that responses had been low. Cabinet also noted that the policy provides applicants with the right of appeal, both when the applicant is placed in a band, and when an offer is made. Cabinet therefore did not endorse the first recommendation of the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the Housing Allocations Scheme retain the option for applicants to refuse the first reasonable offer of accommodation and have a further choice from the property pool.

The remaining recommendations and suggested amendments proposed by the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee were endorsed by Cabinet. It was noted these recommendations had been incorporated within the Addendum to the report, with amendments to Appendix 2 and Appendix 3.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report, Cabinet:

RESOLVED

1     That approval is given to the amended Housing Allocations Scheme as set out in Appendix 2, as amended by the tabled Addendum and Addendum 2.

2     That approval is given to the new Placements Policy as set out in Appendix 3, as amendedby the tabled Addendum.

3     That the policy is reviewed after it has been in operation for 12 months and any further changes reported back to Cabinet.

4     That the Director for Place is instructed to implement the new policy as soon as is practicable.

5     That Cabinet accept the recommendations and amendments proposed by the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Housing Allocations Scheme and Placements Policy, with the exception of recommendation 1 (that the Committee recommend to Cabinet that Housing Allocations Scheme retain the option for applicants to refuse the first reasonable offer of accommodation and have a further choice from the property pool).

Councillor Brian Coleman provided a representation on the referral.

Cabinet considered this matter and

RESOLVED

That no further action is required.

Councillor Brian Coleman provided a representation on the referral.

Cabinet considered this matter and

RESOLVED

That no further action is required.

There were none.