Decision
Analysis
outcome: The Council has approved a twelve month variation to the Property Pool Plus Allocations approach to enable direct matches for homeless households.
summary: The decision at stake is whether to vary the Property Pool Plus Policy to allow direct lets to homeless households in temporary accommodation.
topline: The Executive Director (Place) has decided to approve a twelve month variation to the Property Pool Plus Policy to allow direct matches for homeless households in temporary accommodation.
reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves prioritizing homeless households for direct lets, potentially impacting other applicants in the Property Pool Plus system.
affected_stakeholders: ["homeless households", "Local Authority Property Pool Plus partners", "Council resources"]
contentiousness_score: 6
political_party_relevance: There is no mention of political parties or political influence on the decision.
URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8305
Decision Maker: Executive Director Place (Dale Milburn)
Outcome:
Is Key Decision?: Yes
Is Callable In?: Yes
Purpose: The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Council to vary the Property Pool Plus Policy for a period of twelve months by invoking the discretionary clause which allows for the use of direct lets to specific groups of applicants. Direct lets would be enabled for homeless households accommodated in dispersed or hotel temporary accommodation, alleviating the additional pressures on temporary accommodation. Approval for the variation is required if an individual Local Authority Property Pool Plus partner wishes to utilise such discretion. Where approved this must also be published on the Property Pool Plus website.
Content: The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Council to vary the Property Pool Plus Policy for a period of twelve months by invoking the discretionary clause which allows for the use of direct lets to specific groups of applicants. Direct lets would be enabled for homeless households accommodated in dispersed or hotel temporary accommodation, alleviating the additional pressures on temporary accommodation. Approval for the variation is required if an individual Local Authority Property Pool Plus partner wishes to utilise such discretion. Where approved this must also be published on the Property Pool Plus website. The Executive Director (Place) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development hereby approves a twelve month variation to the Property Pool Plus Allocations approach, commencing on the 10 August 2026, to allow direct matches to alleviate the pressure on the Temporary Accommodation provision. Continue waiting for households in temporary accommodation to secure a property through Property Pool Plus to release the dispersed accommodation for use by another household. In turn relying on hotel accommodation to accommodate households where temporary accommodation needs outweigh supply, creating an unnecessary and preventable financial impact on Council resources.
Date of Decision: August 5, 2026