Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy: Review 2017-18
To receive and consider the Report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support).
Decision:
1. To approve the retention of the existing flexibility within the existing Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy, in order to facilitate the delivery of major adaptations in a way which addresses Better Care Fund (BCF) priorities more effectively.
2. In light of the continued significant levels of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding, it is further recommended to approve the recommendation to increase applicable fees from 10% of the total value of each major adaptation grant award, up to 12.5%. The increase in fee income would provide further opportunity for the Council to re-invest in the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) service, as part of the ongoing efforts to maximise the use of the Council’s DFG budget.
Minutes:
The Executive Member for Homes and Housing presented the confidential report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support).
The report provides a summary of the impact of the changes to the Housing Assistance Policy which were introduced in April 2017 and makes recommendations regarding the future operation of the policy.
The report also updates Members on other features of the Private Sector Housing Assistance policy, such as the extension of the Integrated Home Improvement Services (IHIS) Collaboration Agreement between the Council and Lancashire County Council (LCC) and the corresponding contract extensions between the Council and Mobility Care Services and between the Council and Preston Care and Repair.
Decision:
1. To approve the retention of the existing flexibility within the existing Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy, in order to facilitate the delivery of major adaptations in a way which addresses Better Care Fund (BCF) priorities more effectively.
2. In light of the continued significant levels of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding, it is further recommended to approve the recommendation to increase applicable fees from 10% of the total value of each major adaptation grant award, up to 12.5%. The increase in fee income would provide further opportunity for the Council to re-invest in the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) service, as part of the ongoing efforts to maximise the use of the Council’s DFG budget.
Reasons for recommendation(s)
The policy in operation during 2017/18 has been successful using a number of key criteria. It has enabled the Council to achieve a higher spend on major adaptations than has previously been possible. There have been considerably fewer cases where the applicant has failed the DFG financial assessment.
There has been an increased income to the Council through fee income. Compared with previous years, an increased number of customers have received a grant to provide major adaptations, and customers have experienced a reduced waiting time to receive their adaptations once the Council has received the case referral.
Alternative options considered and rejected
The effectiveness of the policy in 2017/18 has been demonstrated using a number of indicators and, given that funding levels for major adaptations have not reduced in 2018/19, there are no budgetary reasons at the present time to recommend a return to a more traditional approach to the delivery of major adaptations.