Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Housing Strategy Manager on a new Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement and a refreshed Huntingdonshire Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.

Endorsed the Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement, which establishes a joint strategic approach to delivering housing adaptations to ensure the best use of the capital resources available through Better Care Fund.

Approved the refreshed Huntingdonshire District Council Housing Renewal Assistance Policy, which has been updated to complement the adaptations agreement.

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached the Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement together with the refreshed Huntingdonshire District Council Housing Renewal Assistance Policy. The Housing Adaptations Agreement had been produced following a review of the Better Care Fund.

Members discussed the Council’s approach to funding Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). While an increase in the level of funding provided by the Government had coincided with a reduction in the amount allocated by the Council in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for this purpose, the budget had been exceeded. The Council was under a statutory obligation to provide DFGs. However, the Housing Renewal Assistance Policy ensured policies were in place for the use of future unallocated DFG funding and represented an opportunity to support those in need.

Having concurred on the need to monitor closely trends in DFG spending to inform future decisions on the MTFS, it was

RESOLVED

i)  that the Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement be endorsed, which establishes a joint strategic approach to delivering housing adaptations to ensure the best use of the capital resources available through Better Care Fund, and

ii)  that the refreshed Huntingdonshire District Council Housing Renewal Assistance Policy, which has been updated to complement the adaptations agreement, be approved.

The Panel are to receive a report on the new Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement and the refreshed Huntingdonshire Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.

With the aid of a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the New Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement and Refreshed Huntingdonshire Housing Renewal Assistance Policy was presented to the Panel.

The Panel was informed that the Housing Adaptations Agreement is a County wide agreement which establishes a join strategic approach to delivering housing adaptations to ensure the best use of capital resources available through the Better Care Fund. The Council have also taken the opportunity to update the Huntingdonshire Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.

The report was welcomed by Members of the Panel.

In response to a question on how flexible is the Council in regards to the referral process, Members were informed that the Council remain flexible as referrals can come into the District Council and specifically to the Grants Officer.

A Member was concerned that the national shortage of Occupational Therapists would affect Occupational Therapy treatment in the District however Members were informed that the Occupational Therapy service had caught up with referrals in Cambridgeshire earlier this year and they prioritise their care where it is needed most.

Following a question in regards to the carrying out of works and in particular does the Council have a group of local firms or is every job out for tender every time, the Panel was informed that the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (CHIA) have the remit for the tendering of work. The CHIA is in the process of establishing a contractors framework and the Housing Strategy Manager agreed to obtain an update on this which is to be circulated to Members.

Members were informed that the only changes with the Housing Renewals Assistance Policy are listed in Appendix 6 of the Policy.

A Member highlighted that the amendment to the Housing Renewal Assistance Policy concerning boiler replacements could be confusing and appear contradictory to residents. It was explained that the amendment confirmed the closure of the Boiler Replacement Scheme, which hasn’t been used by the Council for a while, however kept the ability for residents to apply for boiler replacements through the Discretionary Minor Repairs Assistance scheme.

The Panel supports the changes and has asked Cabinet to endorse the Cambridgeshire Housing Adaptations Agreement and approve the refreshed Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.