Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) introduced the Single Access Route to Housing (SARTH) report and explained SARTH was a partnership project between all the major social landlords in North East Wales, covering the local authority areas of Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

            The Council managed the housing register on behalf of Denbighshire County Council which included the housing solutions triage as well as managing the social housing register.  Demand for the social housing register had grown over the past three years and was putting increasing pressure on the management of the register and leading to increased wait times for properties.

            A review of the policy to reflect legislation changes was carried out in 2017.  It also allowed any issues raised to be addressed and to develop the policy into a more user friendly document.  A review of issues raised at an operational panel and steering group established that there were no significant changes required to any of the key principles of the policy.  However, the opportunity was taken to develop a document that was easier to read and understand.  The three main sections within the policy were: policy statement; the banding scheme; and allocation of properties.

            A key area of work was the need to develop updated and more comprehensive operational guidance and procedure documents that sat beneath the policy for staff involved in the management of the register and housing allocations.  A robust implementation process was being rolled out providing small group training sessions for all staff that had any part in managing the register or making allocations.  This was mandatory training which would improve consistency, ownership and engagement across the teams. 

            Councillor Shotton welcomed the report and the training that was to be rolled out to staff to ensure a consistent approach.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the management of the Single Access Route to Housing (SARTH) policy in Flintshire continue to be supported; and

(b)       That the updated policy document be supported.