Home Improvement Agency
To receive a presentation from the Head of Planning and Policy.
Minutes:
Karen Carsberg explained the background of the Home Improvement Agencies which provided services to older or disabled that lacked either the financial capacity or personal resources to organise home repairs or adaptations themselves in order to retain independent living.
The role of a Home Improvement Agency was:
l Provide support to assist vulnerable people through the complex process of home repairs and adaptations.
l Helping people to find ways to pay for the repairs and adaptations, including applying for disabled facilities grants, home repair loans and equity release products
l Providing technical advice on the options available and producing architectural drawings and specifications, and assisting people through the planning and building regulations application processes
l Assisting people to employ reputable contractors and carrying out quality checks on the work
l Signposting and referrals to other services to help the vulnerable person address other housing related issues that are affecting their ability to continue living independently in their own home.
Karen explained that the Council currently supported 3 HIA’s which were:
· In-house by the Strategic Housing division of Planning and Housing – for Congleton;
The Council had undertaken a review of HIA’s in 2010, which highlighted the need for a single HIA. The Council had therefore embarked upon a procurement process which had culminated in 3 tenders being received to provide the Council with a home improvement agency service. In August, Cabinet would be asked to decide which of the tenders it preferred and would therefore be asked to provide the service in house.
RESOLVED - That the presentation be received and Karen Carsberg be requested to provide a copy of the report scheduled to go to Cabinet in August 2011 to Members of this Committee at the time of publication.