Issue - meetings

To consider the report seeking approval to consult publicly on the draft 2025-2028 Housing Strategy. 

The Committee considered the report which set out details of the proposed consultation on revisions to the Home Repairs and Adaptations for Vulnerable People Policy to provide a targeted focus on the most financially vulnerable households, enabling them to live independently in their own home, reducing health inequalities and reducing reliance on long-term care.

The demand for the Disabled Facilities Grant was exceeding the budget allocation.  As the Council was facing unprecedented financial circumstances, it was necessary to review the discretionary financial assistance give to residents through the Home Repairs and Adaptions Policy 2021-2026.

The Council had been operating a policy of topping-up £30,000 grants up to £50,000.  Demand for this discretionary supplement had increased year on year, with 17% of the Disabled Facilities Grant budget in 2023/24 being spent on the discretionary supplement.  The proposal to amend the Policy to remove the discretionary element would enable the Council to utilise the capital grant funding it received to assist more households at a lower average grant per household and would align with standard practice in other local authority areas.

The Committee suggested that healthcare partners should be involved with the consultation as there was evidence which showed the effectiveness of housing adaptions reducing the risk of falls at home.

Reference was made to the timescales for grant applications and work being carried out.  In response it was stated that it depended on the type of work requested. Some applications were exceeding the 6 months from when received.  There was a process for very urgent works which could be approved within a matter of days.

RESOLVED (by majority):  That the Committee

1               delegate authority to officers to conduct a public consultation on the proposed revisions to the Home Repairs and Adaptations for Vulnerable People Policy 2021-2026 and return to Committee to report on the outcome of the consultation and seek approval for a final revised policy.        

2        approve the virement of £458,000 budget from Green Homes Grant to Home Repairs for Vulnerable People in the capital programme.