CHANGES aimed at introducing a simpler and fairer way of allocating homes to residents in need across the borough will be discussed by councillors next week.

At a meeting next Thursday, the economic planning and housing committee will be making final comments on a new housing register scheme developed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council that decides who will be given housing association properties.

The council has to have a policy covering who can apply to join the housing register, the size of the property a person can apply for and the relative priority given to housing applicants, under the Housing Act 1996.

At the moment there are over 7,000 applicants on the housing register, but as many of them aren’t in ‘housing need’, they stand little chance of being allocated a home.

Work to review the council’s current policy began in 2012 to address concerns about fairness and complexity and to ensure it reflects new national guidelines and updated strategic priorities. This has included extensive consultation with residents, councillors and partners working in the housing sector.

The new scheme being proposed includes:

• only allowing people in housing need with a local connection to join the housing register

• stopping home owners and people with a household income over £50,000 a year or savings of over £16,000 from applying, apart from in exceptional cases

• introducing a simplified three-band system with the highest priority going to cases with an urgent need to move

• imposing penalties on applicants guilty of poor behaviour, worsening their circumstances to try to get a home or refusing three reasonable housing offers.

Cabinet member for housing and regeneration, Councillor Terri Reid, said: “We know that the borough is a very popular place to live. The current scheme is confusing and doesn’t give people a clear idea of their chances of getting a home based on their housing need.

“We have worked hard to make this work better for people in the borough. Throughout this process officers have worked with residents, partners and councillors to shape a policy that will give priority to people who are local and most in need of housing.

“This work included an extensive consultation with residents during which we received hundreds of comments. These comments are very much reflected in our new draft policy.”

Cllr Reid added: “I hope after all of the input we have had the draft proposals will be well received by the economic planning and housing committee and I look forward to hearing their comments.

“I feel that this has been a positive process of engagement and is bringing forward the very positive outcome of delivering a simplified system, with homes in the borough for those most in need in the borough.”

Comments received from the committee next Thursday will contribute to the final recommendations scheduled for the December meeting of the Cabinet. If approved, the earliest the new scheme could be in place is April 2015.