Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Regeneration and Housing

Purpose of report

To provide an update on changes to Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding and to seek the Executive’s direction on suggested opportunities to improve the Council’s service to disabled residents that arise from those funding changes.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To leave the Council’s capital contribution for Disabled Adaptations unchanged.

1.2         To confirm that any of the total DFG capital budget in excess of what is required to deliver mandatory DFGs should be utilised to make identified improvements to the delivery of adaptations and assistance to eligible disabled residents.

1.3         To note that, in accordance with its Scheme of Delegation to Officers and its Private Sector Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, the Head of Regeneration & Housing and the Lead Member for Housing will determine what additional forms of grants and loans may be appropriate to improve DFG service and delivery.

Resolved

(1)          That the Council’s capital contribution for Disabled Adaptations be left unchanged.

(2)          That it be confirmed that any of the total Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) capital budget in excess of what is required to deliver mandatory DFGs should be utilised to make identified improvements to the delivery of adaptations and assistance to eligible disabled residents.

(3)          That it be noted that, in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Officers and its Private Sector Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, the Head of Regeneration & Housing and the Lead Member for Housing will determine what additional forms of grants and loans may be appropriate to improve DFG service and delivery.

The Head of Regeneration and Housing submitted a report to provide an update on changes to Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding and to seek the Executive’s direction on suggested opportunities to improve the Council’s service to disabled residents that arise from those funding changes.

The Chairman requested that officers submit an update report to Executive in due course.

Resolved

(1)          That the Council’s capital contribution for Disabled Adaptations be left unchanged.

(2)          That it be confirmed that any of the total Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) capital budget in excess of what is required to deliver mandatory DFGs should be utilised to make identified improvements to the delivery of adaptations and assistance to eligible disabled residents.

(3)          That it be noted that, in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Officers and its Private Sector Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, the Head of Regeneration & Housing and the Lead Member for Housing will determine what additional forms of grants and loans may be appropriate to improve DFG service and delivery.

Reasons

The total DFG budget resulting from an increased HWB contribution will allow services to disabled households to be improved beyond the scope of what can be achieved through the established mandatory grants. Officers believe, in particular, that there are opportunities to simplify operations and speed up delivery. Although a suggested range of possible improvements will all require further investigation and working-up, they do not require additional funding by the Council, simply for the existing capital allocation to be maintained for 2016-17.

Alternative options

Option 1: To reduce the Council’s £375k capital allocation for 2016-17, by a sum to be determined, and thereby reduce the total DFG budget. This option would result in the Council foregoing some, or all, of the opportunities to develop and enhance the service provided to disabled residents.