Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To seek approval for the reviewed Housing Grants and Assistance Policy.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1       To approve the reviewed Housing Grants and Assistance Policy.

Resolved

(1)          That the reviewed Housing Grants and Assistance Policy be approved.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to seek approval for the reviewed Housing Grants and Assistance Policy.

Resolved

(1)            That the reviewed Housing Grants and Assistance Policy be approved.

Reasons

It is important that the Council has up to date policies and procedures for its statutory and key service areas and it is important that they are legislatively and operationally sound. A periodic review of policies is therefore appropriate.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not bring forward a reviewed and amended policy. As there has not been any recent changes to legislation in this area, there is no imperative for the current policy to be changed or reviewed. However, it is important the Council policies are reviewed regularly to ensure that they are able to meet customer needs, service needs and are legislatively sound. This option is therefore rejected.

Option 2: To keep two separate policies, one for mandatory grants and one for discretionary grants. As the policy areas are closely linked and intertwine, particularly when offering grants to disabled households, having a single policy provides simplification and clarity. This option is therefore rejected.