Councillor George Davies introduced a report that reminded the Cabinet that the Localism Act 2011 had given new flexibilities and powers to Registered Providers of social housing, including the option to use flexible tenancies. Registered Providers had been given the ability to offer different kinds of tenancies to respond to the particular needs of their communities, ensuring social housing was focused on those who were in genuine need. The Localism Act had also placed a duty on all Local Authorities to publish a Tenancy Strategy setting out how they would like Registered Providers to make use of these flexibilities.

In 2013 the Council had produced a Tenancy Strategy which had been approved by the Cabinet. As all Liverpool City Region local authorities were due to review their Strategies in 2016 and many Registered Providers operated across more than one local authority, it had been agreed to produce a single Strategy for the whole sub-region.

The draft Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy 2016-19 was attached to the report for approval.

Councillor Phil Davies reported that all six Merseyside Councils would adopt the Strategy which would ensure a consistent set of standards across the region.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy 2016-2019 set out at Appendix One to the report be approved, subject to the unanimous agreement of each Liverpool City Region Local Authority through their corresponding approval processes; and

(2)  should any minor amendments be required to the Strategy as a result of these approval processes, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety be given delegated authority to approve these amendments on behalf of the Council.  It is intended, subject to approval, that the Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy 2016-2019 will replace the existing Tenancy Strategy for Wirral.

Councillors Bernie Mooney and Stuart Whittingham returned to the meeting.