Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Housing Strategy Manager detailing the annual operating review of the Home Improvement Agency Shared Service and an update on the Disabled Facilities Grant Budget.

noted the outcome of a review of the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) Service with Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils following its first year of operation; agreed that the additional modelling of current and future demand be undertaken over the summer to feed into the Council’s MTP process in September 2013 and requested officers to report further to Members after two years of the Agency’s operation.

Further to Minute No.11/20 and by way of a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the outcome of a review of the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) Service with Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils following its first year of operation.

Members were reminded that a major part of the service was the administration of Disabled Facilities Grants, usually following a referral from an Occupational Therapist. Whilst there had been some problems experienced during the first 6 months of operation, the service currently was operating as intended. It was reported that waiting times for Occupational Therapists had reduced from 8 months in March 2012 to 4 months in March 2013. Attempts would now be made to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service further through the introduction of competitive tendering for equipment and the procurement of adaptation works from local businesses.

In terms of the Council’s commitment to supporting the delivery of DFGs and the difficulties faced by the authority in forecasting future levels of demand, Members were advised that the 2013/14 budget had been increased and would be able to manage the current demands placed upon it.

In discussing the contents of the report, Members’ attention was drawn to the conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being).  In that respect and given the pressure on Council’s budgets, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted and the additional modelling of current and future demand be undertaken over the summer to feed into the Council’s MTP process in September 2013; and

(b)  that Officers be requested to report further to Members after two years of Cambs Housing Improvement Agency operation.

To receive a report from the Housing Strategy Manager detailing the annual operating review of the Home Improvement Agency Shared Service and an update on the Disabled Facilities Grant Budget.

20 Minutes.

(Councillor N J Guyatt, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, and Councillor T V Rogers, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being), were in attendance for consideration of this item).

(At 7.10pm, during discussion on this item, Councillor S M Van De Kerkhove took his seat at the meeting).

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the outcome of a review of the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) shared service following one year of operation and on the on-going demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs).

In introducing the report, the Deputy Executive Leader explained that the HIA was the first shared service to be introduced by the Council. Whilst some problems had been experienced in the first six months, the service currently was operating as intended and in some respects his expectations had been exceeded. He went on to reiterate the commitment made by the Council to meet the demand for DFGs. Finally, he referred to the difficulties faced by the authority in forecasting future levels of demand and the implications of this for the Council’s financial planning.

The Housing Strategy Manager reminded the Panel of the background to the establishment of the shared HIA service. She reported that DFGs were only awarded for adaptation works in excess of £1,000. Members were encouraged to note the successes which had been achieved in reducing the waiting times for Occupational Therapists (OT) from eight months in March 2012 to four months in March 2013. The length of time applicants had to wait for assessments had been a longstanding problem. Members’ attention was then drawn to the HIA’s progress against its agreed key objectives and the work plan which would guide its work over the course of the ensuing year. It was reported that the latter included improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the service through measures such as the introduction of competitive tendering for equipment and the procurement of adaptation works from local businesses.

Despite the improvements which had been made to reduce OT waiting times, Members were of the opinion that further reductions should be sought. The view was held that four months was likely to appear to applicants to be a significant time to wait. In response, the Housing Strategy Manager reported that this was a priority for the HIA Manager. In addition, Members had some concern over effect of the impending dissolution of Cambridgeshire Community Services on the future of OT service provision. It was reported that meetings were being held with relevant parties to address the matter. Furthermore it was confirmed that to assist with the current backlog of casework in Huntingdonshire an additional Surveyor had been appointed on a temporary contract within the HIA.

The Panel discussed a number of matters including the feedback received from clients who had works carried out on their homes which revealed very high levels of satisfaction with the service received, a suggestion that homeowners  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10