Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Executive Director of Adult Services, which presented the Home Adaptations for Disable People Policy and the Home Assistance Policy.

The Board was advised that the Home Adaptations for Disabled People Policy was the internal policy for staff for determining eligibility, approval and management of both minor and major housing adaptions requests.  The Home Assistance Policy was the corresponding public facing document, required to be in place as per the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) Order (RRO) 2002.

The report provided Members with details of a recent review of the policies, using Government guidance published in March 2022 – Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Delivery: Guidance for Local Authorities in England.

Following Members discussion and scrutiny of the policies, the following additional information was provided:

·       It was disappointing that the review had not included proposals for an increase on the £30k maximum DFG (Disabilities Facilities Grant) award for housing adaptations – a review was supposed to have taken place last year, but this was cancelled by Government;

·       Concerns were raised that £30k does not go as far as it did when it was set years ago, so for some people this may not be enough to cover required adaptions and therefore push them into care homes;

·       The fast track process for a DFG application took approximately 6 months from when the grant application is made;

·       It was noted that only the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association had responded to the consultation, despite two reminders being sent.  Members were curious as to why other charities had not responded;

·       Top up loans were available to clients in certain circumstances;

·       Discretionary support loans may be available for owner occupiers to cover contributions to adaptations or to cover a shortfall in funding.  These charges were then placed against the property and recouped if the property was sold or transferred within 10 years; 

·       Housing associations do fund housing adaptations and were signed up to fund 50% of costs; and

·       In the case of a private landlord not agreeing to adaptations to their property, the client would be supported to consider a house move.

RESOLVED:  That the report is noted.