Readers will remember the article VB ran yesterday, reporting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request featured on the Conservative Home Website highlighting how councils around the country approach social housing allocation.
We had not received a response from the council at the time of publishing, but after-hours night a comprehensive statement from Cllr Mazillius dropped into our inbox.
The council had responded to the FOIA request stating that they do not give greater preference to those having served in the Armed Forces, over those with housing need also on the register.
Response was based on current policies
Cllr Roger Mazillius, IW Council cabinet member for adult social care, community services and housing told VB, “Our responses to the consultation were based on the current policies but we will, naturally seek to make use of the greater flexibilities of the Localism Act following the required consultation, as appropriate.”
He added that “The quotes featured in this article are selective and unfortunately have ignored some important context.”
We can only assume that Cllr Mazillius is referring to the quotes in the Conservative Home article, as VB does not have access to the council’s response to the FOIA request.
May now be changing
Cllr Mazillius goes on to say, “In the case of the armed forces question, we have told Government that while we do not currently offer greater preference to those who have served in the armed forces we would be sympathetic to those applications from service personnel – and their families – with an urgent housing need.
“Recently, for example, a military family with an urgent housing need and a strong family connection to the Island was successfully housed here.”
Injured servicemen/women
It will be encouraging for many to hear that those who have been injured during service, could, in the future, be given additional preference.
Cllr Mazillius continued, “In light of the new government guidance, we will be seeking to implement and give additional preference to those personnel that have a need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service.”
Seasonal workers
As everyone is aware, there is a great deal of seasonal work on the Island. Cllr Mazillius said, “Our response to the question of rewarding people who are in work was made in the context of the large number of Islanders employed in seasonal work. It would be unfair on these hard working people if they were disadvantaged in terms of their housing need due to the seasonal nature of their work.
“A housing policy that also reflected this seasonal employment issue would also be extremely hard to administer as their employment situation and therefore people’s individual circumstances could vary so markedly on an almost monthly basis that updating their details on the Choiced Based Lettings scheme would be unrealistic.
“It should go without saying that the council would give no advantage to people who make no effort to work over those that do but who have their ability for full-time employment curtailed by the Island’s dependency on seasonal work.”
