Issue - meetings

Decision:

That the revised Home Adaptations and Improvement Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, be approved.

Reasons:

The proposals:

·        benefit vulnerable residents and enable them to remain living at home safely and in their own communities for as long as possible;

·        make best use of increased Better Care Fund, provided by central government for councils to develop local responses to meet the needs of residents who require practical assistance to remain living at home;

·        meet national best practice standards, the recommendations of Foundations Adaptations and Equipment Review 2017, authorised by Surrey councils, also in line with neighbouring (and the majority) of Surrey borough and district councils;

·        have undergone thorough budget testing and are fully costed. In addition, measures are in place to regularly review budget spend, including reducing discretionary spend, if forecasting a potential overspend, to focus on mandatory grant requirements; and

·        are supported by service user groups, Guildford Care and Repair Service, Surrey County Council Occupational Therapy teams who refer to the service.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None

The Executive considered a report on the proposed revised Private Sector Home Adaptation and Improvement Policy for Guildford that would allow the Council to extend the range of assistance available to vulnerable residents to help them remain safely and independently in their own homes.

The policy had been written in response to increased funding, through the Better Care Fund, Housing Capital Grant. This was a combined fund provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health, to enable councils to assist their residents to access housing improvements and adaptations, which will enable them to live independently at home, for as long as possible.

The changes in policy were also planned to implement recommendations made to Surrey councils through Foundations (national Home Improvement Agency charity) Adaptation and Equipment Report 2017. Each of the Surrey borough and district councils had been working together, through the Surrey Equipment and Adaptations Project, to review, plan and implement the recommendations made within the Foundations report.

The key features of the policy review were to introduce discretionary elements within the support provided through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), to complement the mandatory provision. The discretionary policy would be available to all grant applicants; however, it was anticipated that the policy would have a positive impact on 92 people. The key changes were:

·        Exemption from means testing for works that prevent falls, i.e. rails, ramps, steps and stairlifts. This would reduce bureaucracy and improve response times to install equipment required by older and disabled people, many of whom were on low incomes and already passed the financial test of resources.

·        Introduction of a Prevention Grant to fund installation of rails and associated measures to prevent falls in the home without charge, as well as works in the home to facilitate discharge from hospital, prevent ill-health and emergencies, such as minor repair or adaptations, assistive technology, emergency heating or electrical repairs, or clearing hoarding.

·        Flexibility to the upper limit of DFG from £30,000 to £45,000 per application for major works. This additional funding would be means tested for adults and children with disabilities (the latter were exempt from means testing for works valued up to £30,000). The policy would allow quicker decision making for complex cases, where funding was required from Surrey County Council, as well as Guildford Borough Council.

·        Discretion for the Regulatory Services Manager to waive the means test for those who would struggle financially to meet their contribution to the cost of works. The flexibility would have a maximum value of £12,000 for residents with financial hardship of income, or less than £24,500 savings. Any client contribution would be waived, if costing less than £1,000.

·        The introduction of a Relocation Grant of up to £10,000 to assist home owners or tenants to move to a suitable property, when their current home was not suitable for adaptation.

·        To continue to provide discretionary assistance to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria in the current home improvement policy.

Having considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106