Decision - Revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy

Decision details

Revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The report highlights the main changes and additions to the Policy, which take into account the changes in government guidance, and the new schemes introduced to help spend the increased Disabled Facilities Grant allocation.

 

Decisions:

The report presented the new Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy and highlighted the changes and additions made since the previous policy was published in 2012.

 

The report had been considered  by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 17 July 2018. Their comments were circulated to the Cabinet Members at the meeting.

 

Proposed by Councillor Ewart-James,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Berry; and

 

RESOLVED:

 

1)    That the report be received and noted.

2)    That the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy 2018-2022 be agreed.

3)    That the additional resource from the Better Care Fund (BCF) and the continued delivery plan for Disabled Facilities grants (DFG) and hospital discharge schemes be noted, in line with the BCF guidelines

4)    That the Cabinet Member for Housing be given delegated authority (in consultation with the Head of Service) to make any minor changes to the policy as necessary, (provided it remains substantially within the budget framework) and subject to any comments received through the public consultation.

 

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

 

1)    The policy supports the continued investment in improvement of the housing stock of the district, enables more vulnerable and sick people who are on low incomes to remain in their homes for longer, thus preventing them from burdening hospitals and care systems too early, and enables timely discharge from hospital where housing conditions are preventing a discharge.

2)    The changes in how the funding is delivered to local authorities for Disabled Adaptations, the new guidelines on the Better Care Fund and the significant increase in funding means that the policy needs to change to take these changes into account.

3)    The Better Care Fund guidelines allow for more flexibility in how Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) money can be spent and encourages innovation.  By allowing the Cabinet Member for Housing to make minor changes to the policy, we can ensure that the policy reflects the work of the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team and any new schemes to enable timely spending of the DFG as they are brought about.

4)    The No Use Empty Plus loans scheme has been successfully running since 2015, helping to bring more empty properties back into use, but this needs to be set out in the new policy.

5)    The Home Safe loan limit of £5,000 is not enough to deal with the majority of cases where vulnerable persons’ homes are in need of repair to remove hazards.

6)    A consultation exercise for a period of six weeks will commence after the policy is approved by Cabinet by publishing on the website and by sending to interested parties, including disabled charities, KCC Occupational Therapists, Home Improvement Agencies and the pensioner forum.

 

 

Report author: Kerry Petts

Publication date: 14/08/2018

Date of decision: 18/07/2018

Decided at meeting: 18/07/2018 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: