Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To provide the Executive with an opportunity to consider the final draft Private Housing Health Assistance Policy 2018-2022 for consultation, which was to supersede the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy suspended by the Executive in 2015.

Decision

That the Executive endorses the Private Housing Health Assistance Policy 2018-2022, as amended and published with the supplement to the agenda for this meeting, subject to a delegation being given to the Director of Communities and Environment and the City Solicitor to agree a process for recovery of discretionary funding if the property is disposed of.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The following alternative options were considered and rejected:

·         to lift the suspension of the existing policy;

·         to make no financial provision for assistance.

Reason for Decision

The Housing Assistance Policy was suspended by the Executive in March 2015, with the new Private Housing Health Assistance Policy being refocussed with an emphasis on health and prevention enabling independent living by supporting those whose independence may be at risk.

In April 2015 the Government made significant changes to the funding mechanism for disabled facilities grants by making the allocation part of the Better Care Fund, a pooled budget between the NHS and upper tier councils. The aim of the fund was to provide more joined-up and customer focused services to reduce hospital and care admissions and enable people to return from hospital more quickly. Home adaptations and essential repairs for disabled and vulnerable people supported these requirements.

The revised policy explained how the Council would use its resources, where available, to assist residents in the need of support to maintain independence in the home, reduce the need for support from social care and health services and prevent further deterioration in their conditions. The assistance could be in the form of a mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant or discretionary assistance, which enabled the Council to deal with immediate health and safety concerns swiftly and appropriately. Further details of the policy aims were outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report, together with the types of assistance available as set out in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 of the report.

The Private Housing Health Assistance Policy had been considered by the Policy Scrutiny Committee on 20 March 2018 and an extract from the draft minutes of that meeting was circulated. The policy had been amended as a consequence of comments raised at that meeting in respect of the following:

·         the inclusion of clear eligibility and age criteria;

·         more clarity around hospital discharge assistance;

Where the applicant had an owner’s interest in the property, it was proposed that the amount of the discretionary funding would be secured by attaching a local land charge on the adapted property. If the property was disposed of within ten years of the completion of the works, re-payment of the amount would be required. It was originally proposed that this would be reduced by 10% for each complete year, but the Policy Scrutiny Committee had recommended that this aspect of the policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 148