FOI request (FOIR-555882712)

Sussex Homemove Scheme

Requested Fri 20 October 2023
Responded Thu 23 November 2023

Hello, I am working on a study project. This project will become a public educational video covering the history of public housing in Hastings (and England). This is a deep study, which I hope results in being useful for any council and public whom are served by councils. The study project will include coverage starting from The Homes For Heroes Initiative after the 1st world war up to the present and future 2024. My questions today do nor cover all the mentioned above but does focus on the Sussex Homemove Scheme being managed online by a single Hastings employee? The aim is to get factual information which will be of high interest to members of the public and of course local councils.

If any questions cannot be answered due to records not being kept by the council, please simply state that the council did not and/or is not keeping records and the reason why.

1. When was the Sussex Homemove Scheme started? By Whom (including any MP involved)? The stated purpose? The housing qualifications of those creating the Homemove scheme?

This question is put forward under the logic that qualified housing professionals looked at the Sussex Homemove scheme to ascertain that zero conflicts existed which will conflict with housing legislation and duties placed upon local councils to provide housing for residents in the Hastings and Rother areas.

Were any conflicts encountered due to legislation protecting the legal rights of people forced into homelessness and local residents (council tax payers) applying for housing in Hastings via the council?

2. The type of consultation which took place with residents within the boundaries in which Hastings Council works for Hastings' residents? When the consultation took place? Which local MP was involved in this? What was the feedback from people in Hastings?

3. It appears that the council is not managing a housing waiting list for the council tax paying residents. Who made this decision and what type of consultation took place with Hastings residents?

4. How many houses have been allocated to non-local residents since the Sussex Homemove Scheme was started? Type of properties, for example, flats, houses, number of bedrooms, and so on? Type of tenancies awarded?

5. I am trying to understand how allocating much needed homes in Hastings to non-residents benefits local people and their legislative rights to housing?

Somebody put forward a detailed explanation of the benefits for local people in Hastings in order to get this scheme into place. My assumption is the benefits put forward were convincing? I need to understand this more clearly? At the moment I am looking at the impact on the job market and the availability of local housing for local people when non-local people are given local housing and are moved into Hastings and the local job market.

6. What is the impact on the local community job market when non-residents are moved into taking houses built for local residents and jobs which would usually be available for local residents? A risk assessment was carried out? May I see it please?

7. What studies have been carried out to look at the potential of the Sussex Homemove Scheme impacting in prolonging homelessness of local Hastings residents? The cost implication for this?

8. The family unit must have stability. Access to local jobs and housing. Families are not singular units and often require support and rightful socialisation with/from extended family members in a local community. Grandparents, adult and none adult family relatives. How does the Sussex Homemove Scheme work with the above points when moving none local residents away from their local areas into Hastings to take up jobs and local housing? Are there any records on file that this was looked at and answered?

9. If, and I hope it is a big IF, was the Sussex Homemove Scheme copied by Hastings from any schemes being used by other councils? If Yes, may I see the information about this?

10. Please may I see the statistics showing yearly local Hastings Council numbers of homelessness cases and the time spent in temporary homelessness accommodation since the introduction of the Sussex Homemove Scheme?

11. With question number 10 in mind, may I see the homelessness statistics and time spent in temporary homeless accommodation for the 5 years proceeding the introduction of the Sussex Homemove Scheme?

12. Who are the agencies funding the Sussex Homemove Scheme? Names and contact details please?

13. Please can you tell me which social housing agencies, charities, trusts, and so on, purchased Hastings and Rother public housing stock? Is there data available showing how much each agency paid for Hastings council housing stock? Contracts/agreements made to ensure those agencies will manage and provide housing for people within the boundaries of Hastings and Rother council? Do you have any information in your records if any of those that purchased Hastings housing stock then went to merge with Social Housing agencies outside the borders of Hastings and Rother council.

14. Please correct me if I am wrong. The housing services officers in Hastings should be a team of 8 officers? How many have been employed yearly for the last 5 years?

15. How many local residents are pushed down the hosing waiting list (including homelessness cases) by priority given to non-local residents on the Homemove Scheme.

It would be really helpful if these statistics can be shown since the start of the Sussex council Homemove Scheme?

I do understand this type of information goes on record? It is there in the data used for managing the Homemove Scheme since it started? It is how housing is being allocated.

16. A recent project in St Leonards in which over 40 houses have been built. Are these properties allocated to Hastings residents or offered to non-local residents?

I sincerely appreciate your feedback and provision of detailed information. If any questions put by me fall outside of your remit, please provide the contact details for who can provide the information.

Response

1. Information not held.

2. Information not held.

3. The eligibility criteria for the housing waiting list is set out in the Hastings Borough Council Homemove Allocation Scheme 2018:

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/social_housing/homemove/

4. 155 properties were let through Homemove between 1st October 2022 and 30th September 2023.

Details of lets and property sizes during this period are on this link:

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/social_housing/new/

5. A local connection criteria is applied to the allocation of social housing. Details are in the above link to the allocations scheme.

6. A local connection criteria is applied to the allocation of social housing. Details are in the above link to the allocations scheme.

7. Information not held.

8. A local connection criteria is applied to the allocation of social housing. Details are in the above link to the allocations scheme.

9. Information not held.

10. Information on homelessness statistics is available on the .gov.uk website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

Information not held on time spent in temporary accommodation.

11. Information on homelessness statistics are available on the .gov.uk website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

Information not held on time spent in temporary accommodation.

12. Sussex Homemove is a joint partnership between Hastings, Rother, and Wealden councils.

13. Hastings Borough Council housing stock was transferred to 1066 Housing Association in 1996. No further information held.

14. There are a number of officers employed in different roles across the team. Currently there are 2x team leaders and 11x housing options officers.

15. A local connection criteria is applied to the allocation of social housing. Details are in the above link to the allocations scheme.

16. Properties are allocated in accordance with the allocations scheme. the link to the scheme is provided in the answer above.