Issue - meetings

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Homelessness and Planning)

The Chair welcomed the Assistant Director Assets, Paul Weston, and the Disabled Adaptation Manager, Lucy Mitchell, and the Leader of the Council who was there in the absence of the Portfolio Holder for the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Homelessness and Planning to review and consider the proposed draft Housing Assistance Policy (Appendix A) for the delivery of mandatory and discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), prior to submission to Cabinet for full approval and adoption for private sector delivery, and in the interim period of not having a Council Adaptations Policy, consider the policy foundations within this Policy for Council delivery.

In addition, review and consider the Interim Policy Position Statement (IPPS) for Council adaptations in scenarios where the Council can reject, refuse of pend permission, for example where tenants are intending to purchase their property, are in arrears or facing eviction action, or are looking to move home and the exceptional circumstances for applying discretion (Appendix B).

The Leader of the Council introduced the report before handing over to the Assistant Director who thanked the team for their work on the reports. They highlighted that there are applications for discretionary fundings for adaptations which cannot move forward until the policy is in place as well as providing transparency in this area.

The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:

1.     What expert advice did Officers receive when they were writing point 3.9 C of the policy, how many tariff levels there are and whether the Officer was aware of how many conditions that this would exclude?

The Officer confirmed that no specific advice had been taken but this part of the policy was written in line with is the Government recommendations, the wording contained with the policy allows the Council to claim back money from the Government for DFG purposes.

With regards to the number of tariffs this is something that they could come back to the Committee on and the Officer agreed to provide a copy of the data that was used for points 3.9 C and D.

In terms of those excluded by this there is a policy foundation and a discretionary element. If there are additional factors that need to be considered then they would be.

A motion was proposed that Cabinet removes lines C and D from section 2.9 in the draft, this was not carried.

2.     The Committee acknowledged the work that had gone into the policy and that the Council are providing a much-needed service and that massive efforts have neem made since the changeover of the service.

3.     As this is the policy, how we are going to do this, what are we currently implementing and what are the challenges?

The Officer confirmed that the service is being delivered within the statutory framework, but the policy outlines the terms and conditions around that and allows the Council to offer the four discretionary grants. It was confirmed that all mandatory grants are going through as legislation requires. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10