Decision details

To seek approval to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant to fund essential adaptations to support a severely disabled child (exempt report at appendices by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2).

Resolved

(1)            That the exceptional DFG top-up grant award of £90,000 be approved.

(2)            That it be agreed to waive the means testing of the DFG top-up grant.

(3)            That it be agreed to limit the land charge to £30,000 for the DFG top-up grant.

As part of its statutory duties, the Council provides financial assistance for disabled adaptations. This is in the form of Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), which are capped by statute at £30,000. The Council also offers discretionary DFGs under its Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, capped at a further £30,000.

Approval is sought from the Portfolio Holder to agree an exceptional DFG top-up of £90,000 and to waive any means-testing to allow for rapid and significant improvements to the recipient and their family’s quality of life which are urgently needed.

Option 1: Not approve the exceptional DFG top-up grant.

This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt report.

Option 2: Approve the DFG top-up grant but require means-testing

This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt repo

Option 3: Approve the DFG top-up grant without means testing but require the full amount to be lodged as a local land charge

This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt repo