Issue details

Officers have engaged with internal CBC Teams, including Housing Options, Housing Management, Lettings and Housing Enabling Officers to ensure that both housing need and community cohesion impacts are reflected within the wording of the Local Lettings Plan. Housing Options Officers suggested that the Council’s approach to the Exclusion Criteria should be reviewed and slightly relaxed to ensure that a proportionate balance is struck between community cohesion impacts and meeting housing need on the Council’s housing register. This resulted in a reduced period for applicants to be refused a tenancy on the grounds of having a history of ASB at a previous or current tenancy from 5 to 3 years. Additionally, Housing Options officers advised that the criteria for refusing a tenancy offer to persons with a high support need should be clarified, with officers required to demonstrate that either the applicant is not being adequately supported with their support need, or they are demonstrably refusing to engage with relevant support offers to justify bypassing on these grounds. Following feedback from relevant Cheltenham Borough Council officers, feedback was sought from the Cabinet Member for Housing, who provided a written statement in support of the Local Lettings Plan, noting that- “For all our tenants, safety, comfort and the chance to build a new life in a community is important. I welcome the new Lettings Plan as it will offer potential tenants a real opportunity for a new home and future”.