Decision details

1. To remove the extant Local Lettings Plan at Scott House, GL51 0HF.
2. To keep the community dynamics in the vicinity of Scott House under ongoing review.

Following a review of Local Lettings Plans in place across Cheltenham Borough alongside officers, and based on the available evidence, it has been decided to remove the Local Lettings Plan at Scott House, GL51 0HF to enable these 85 no. 1 bedroom properties to be let via Homeseeker Plus without restriction.
When coming to this decision, officers reviewed data relating to tenancy sustainability, anti-social behavior and lets for Scott House. Collectively officers didn’t feel that the available data justified retaining a Local Lettings Plan for this scheme, especially in view of the significant level of unmet need as reflected on the Council’s Waiting List. Of note, officers have seen a notable reduction in reported levels of ASB at Scott House over recent years, following partnership work led by Cheltenham Borough Council’s ASB team.
The extant Local Lettings Plan for Scott House has been in place since 2012, and, given the length of time this plan has been in place, available data, and the additional responsibilities under the Council’s jurisdiction through the 2023 Social Housing Regulation Act, (especially in relation to improving transparency and making best use of existing housing stock), officers are supportive of removing the extant Local Lettings Plan for Scott House.
Notwithstanding the above, officers are aware that tenants and tenant representatives have concerns about the removal of this Local Lettings Plan. To address this concern, officers will keep the community dynamics and cohesion in and around Scott House under ongoing review.
If available anti-social behavior, lettings and/or community cohesion data reflects a significant deterioration in community resilience, officers will look to reinstate the Local Lettings Plan, in conjunction with tenants and tenant representatives.

Officers considered keeping the Local Lettings Plan for Scott House unchanged. However, owing to the length of time in which this Local Lettings Plan has been in place, and the additional responsibilities falling upon the Council with relation to managing our housing stock effectively in line with the 2023 Social Housing Regulation Act, this option has been rejected.
A secondary option considered by Officers was renewing the Scott House Local Lettings Plan. This option was rejected on the grounds that Officers collectively felt that the available data around ASB, lettings, tenancy management and community cohesion did not indicate a strong need to retain this Local Lettings Plan, as reflected by low levels of ASB and a lack of significant community cohesion issues being reported or identified by officers.

A review of the Scott House Local Lettings Plan was held with officers from several internal teams to determine an appropriate course of action. Whilst officers noted a significant improvement in ASB and community cohesion at Scott House, officers were also aware that this scheme would need to be kept under regular review to monitor the impact of withdrawing the Local Lettings Plan. Recorded issues around ASB in particular were not deemed to be severe enough to warrant the retention of a Local Lettings Plan at Scott House.

Following this internal consultation with officers, officers engaged with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services and Ward Members for Hesters Way, who proposed no amendments or changes to the Officer Decision, and recognised the rationale for removing the Local Lettings Plan.