Agenda item

To receive a report from the Housing Strategy Manager reviewing the progress of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency shared service and the ongoing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants.

20 Minutes.

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 Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (HIA) shared service following two years of operation. The report also referred to the impact on the service of the Better Care Fund and the ongoing demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

The Housing Strategy Manager reminded Members of the background to the current arrangements. The HIA was the Council’s first shared service. While some problems had been experienced in the first year of operation, the service was now operating as intended and had met each of its three key objectives; namely to deliver cost savings for both District and County Commissioners, to improve operational resilience and opportunities for cross boundary working and to provide a platform for improved performance and efficiency over time.

Members’ attention was drawn to the terms of the Government’s Better Care Fund (BCF), which was a pooled fund for Health and Adult Social Care. The Government’s contribution to Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) capital funding would also be transferred into the BCF and for the time being would be ring fenced for DFG expenditure.

Referring to the opportunity that existed to broaden the shared service, Members challenged the risks associated with the development of a County-wide shared service if all Cambridgeshire authorities did not sign up to the proposals. Particular reference was made to the potential withdrawal of revenue funding from the County Council and its impact upon Huntingdonshire.

Members noted that waiting times for Occupational Therapy (OT) assessments to be completed for Priority 1 and Priority 2 cases had reduced. Priority 3 cases remained a concern with individuals waiting as long as 25 weeks in some cases. However, where necessary, these cases were provided with interim aids to enable them to cope during this period. The possible introduction of a “fast track” grant system for smaller works was being considered. This would improve the figures as smaller adaptations could be undertaken outside of the DFG process thereby eliminating the need for an OT assessment.

The Panel supported the Housing Strategy Manager’s intention to produce a report on the lessons learnt from the establishment of the Cambridgeshire HIA shared service. This would inform future shared service proposals.

Finally, Members discussed the tender process for appointing contractors to undertake HIA works. It was suggested that ways of allowing smaller local firms to compete for such works should be investigated as it could reduce costs and enable more clients to benefit from the DFG budget. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  grant permission for Officers to work up an Outline Business Case for the expansion to a County-wide service, with final agreement being subject to a Detailed Business Case to go before Members at a later date;

(b)  endorse the extension of the current Shared Service Agreement by a further 12 months to 31^st March 2016; and

(c)  request a further report be brought to Members after three years of the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency operation.