Agenda item

[Report of the  Assistant Director for Regeneration. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.]  This report will give the outcome of consultation on the draft Estate Renewal Rehousing and Payments Policy and propose the adoption of a final version

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning introduced the policy which brought together the Council’s commitment to estate renewal and rehousing and set out the approach to be taken forward.

The policy endeavoured to meet the expectation of residents who maybe required to be re-housed in the estate renewal process and brought together all the advice and support currently listed in a range of different documents on rehousing, housing allocations and compensation payments, into one accessible document. Through this policy, residents would be able to access and understand the Council’s position on rehousing and compensation payments for moving from their homes when the estate renewals take place in the future.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that whenever the Council talk to tenants and leaseholders about estate renewal and rehousing situations in the future, they will be at the centre of this process. The policy also makes clear that these residents will be fully consulted in this process with support through independent advice. There will be full package of support and compensation where re housing does happen. The Council were committed to providing right of return to properties, where it can, but this will be subject to individual schemes and viability.

The Cabinet Member concluded that the policy was clear on what residents can expect in a consultation process when an estate is being renewed and rehousing is required. He further reiterated that residents will be fully supported and helped through the process of rehousing.

RESOLVED

1. That the responses to the consultation with tenants, leaseholders and freeholders on the proposed Estate Renewal Rehousing and Payments Policy be noted.

2. That the immediate adoption the Estate Renewal, Rehousing and Payments Policy set out in appendix 2, as amended in the light of consultation and having considered the Equalities Impact Assessment be approved.

3. That delegated authority be provided to the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Development to make any minor changes to the Policy that may be required as a result of legislative change.

Reasons for decision

A decision to adopt the Estate Renewal, Rehousing and Payments Policy was required to ensure that the Council applies a consistent policy across the whole borough for all estate renewal schemes. This will ensure that tenants and leaseholders will have a clear understanding of what they may expect if an estate renewal scheme is proposed for their estate and also ensure that tenants and leaseholders are treated fairly and consistently, wherever they live and whenever the scheme starts.

A delegation to the Director of Regeneration, Planning & Development to make minor amendments to the policy is required. The policy includes statutory provisions that will need to be maintained in line with any legislative changes, which may include matters arising from the Housing and Planning Act.

Alternative options considered

The alternative options of developing an estate renewal rehousing policy only or a set of procedures for staff covering the issues in appendix 2 were considered. It was concluded that it was important to bring together all the policies relevant to rehousing and compensating residents in one document, rather than just cover rehousing matters. Also, a set of procedures would not best represent a statement by the Council of its commitments to affected residents, which is an important objective of the proposed policy.

In developing the proposed policy, alternative approaches to how the policy should be applied to individual estate renewal schemes were considered. Broadly, 3 approaches were considered:

(a)  Apply the statutory entitlements and relevant existing policy commitments across all schemes;

(b)  Consider the rehousing and payment commitments to residents on a scheme by scheme basis;

(c)  Apply (a) above, but consider additional discretionary entitlements on a scheme by scheme basis.

The approach set out in paragraph 5.2(a) above had been broadly adopted within the policy at appendix 2, as this provides consistency across different schemes and amongst residents from different areas.  It also provides a better balance between meeting the rehousing needs of residents affected by estate renewal and other households on the Housing Register.  It should be noted that the proposed policy provides consistency in key areas, such as rehousing and compensation for tenants.  However, the proposed policy does provide for flexibility on a scheme by scheme basis, when dealing with the right of residents to return to the same estate, options for leaseholders and the provision when appropriate of local lettings plans.

Option (b) was rejected, because it was felt that it was important to ensure that as far as possible residents everywhere were treated consistently.  Option (c) was rejected, because additional discretionary housing and payments would have a detrimental effect on remaining tenants who are not subject to estate renewal.