Decision details

To provide:

·  a progress review of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (CHIA) Shared Service following three years of operation;

·  an update on the position with regards to extending the Shared Service to include East Cambridgeshire District Council;

·  a recommendation to extend the CHIA Shared Service for a further two years;

·  a review of the ongoing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) and the impact of the transfer of the Government DFG capital funding to the Better Care Fund.

Notes the position following three years of the shared Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency service; and

Agrees to delegate authority to the Head of Development in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing to sign a new Partnership Agreement for a further two years with provision for an extension for a further three years by agreement.

The Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency Shared Service has been successful in meeting its aims and objectives after three years, with potential to achieve further efficiencies both internally and externally into the future. 

The current Partnership Agreement expires in March 2016.

Members have requested an Annual Report on performance of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency Shared Service.

The opportunity to broaden the Shared Service to include the other Districts within Cambridgeshire has been considered but it has been decided not to expand and to maintain the current arrangements.

None.