Issue - meetings

Following on from the previous report on the Bucks Home Choice scheme and the charging arrangements for Registered Providers (aka housing associations), this report summarises the status of the charging arrangements that currently operate within each district for (i) Bucks Home Choice adverts and (ii) development partnership arrangements, and reviews the options for operating the charging arrangements from vesting day and recommends the approach that should be taken.

RESOLVED:

1.    Draft and implement a timetable for the development and introduction of a harmonised countywide system for charging Registered Providers to advertise tenancies via the Bucks Home Choice scheme with a target completion date of 30 September 2020.

2.    Continue the existing district-zoned Bucks Home Choice charging arrangements in Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe post-vesting day until new countywide harmonised charging arrangements are introduced

3.    Continue the existing Aylesbury Vale Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement from vesting day on the basis that the new Buckinghamshire Council will review working arrangements with Registered Providers and may develop and implement a new countywide Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement as required.

A Macpherson left the meeting.

I Darby introduced the report, which set out the status of charging arrangements that currently operated with each district and the options that had been reviewed for the arrangements that would be put in place from vesting day.  It was stated that cross council arrangements would take some time to fully implement although any new registered provider would be harmonised.  It was also stated that district zoned Bucks Home Choice charging arrangements would continue in the meantime and there was a clear timeline for harmonisation with 30 September 2020 as a completion date.

The report set out that is was recommended to continue the existing Aylesbury Vale Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement from vesting day on the basis that the new Buckinghamshire Council would review working arrangements with Registered Providers and may develop and implement a new countywide Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement as required.

Following a question from a member of the Shadow Executive is was confirmed that the officers that had formed the workstream as part of the unitary transition programme would continue to take forward the piece of work until completion in September.

It was highlighted that there was an opportunity to improve relationships with not only housing providers but also children leaving care.

RESOLVED:

1. To draft and implement a timetable for the development and introduction of a harmonised countywide system for charging Registered Providers to advertise tenancies via the Bucks Home Choice scheme with a target completion date of 30 September 2020.
2. To Continue the existing district-zoned Bucks Home Choice charging arrangements in Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe post-vesting day until new countywide harmonised charging arrangements are introduced

To continue the existing Aylesbury Vale Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement from vesting day on the basis that the new Buckinghamshire Council will review working arrangements with Registered Providers and may develop and implement a new countywide Affordable Housing Partnership Agreement as required.