Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 12, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 12.1 The Assistant Director of Home First introduced the report which noted that approval was provided from the Housing Policy Committee on 23rd January 2025 date for proposed amendments to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy (the Policy), which was adopted in January 2020. The proposed amendments related to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funded assistance in the Policy, including Mandatory DFGs and discretionary financial assistance. The report also summarised proposed amendments, along with the results from the public consultation.   12.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee:- a.    Note that the Housing Policy Committee on 23rd January 2025 considered and approved the following amendments to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy (Appendix 1). •       Amendment 1 – Include Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) in the Policy. •       Amendment 2 – Introduce a local land charge within the Mandatory and Top Up Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). •       Amendment 3 – Changes to the Accelerated Adaptations Grant eligibility, to be renamed as the Accelerated Disabled Facilities Adaptations Grant. •       Amendment 4 – Removal of the Minor Works Grant. •       Amendment 5 – Amend the purpose of the Disabled Person’s Home Appreciation Loan. •       Amendment 6 – Changes to the Relocation Loan to separate out the two purposes and reduce the loan amount for the DFG element to a maximum discretionary amount of £40,000 12.3 Reasons for Decision 12.3.1 The Council have a statutory duty to provide Mandatory DFGs, and powers to provide other financial assistance for housing renewal at its discretion. The changes to the Policy will enable the Council to effectively use the DFG budget to prioritise Mandatory DFGs while offering further assistance when necessary and to those most in need. 12.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected 12.4.1 The Policy could remain as it is with no amendments, but there is a risk that the DFG budget would not be sufficient and the statutory duty to provide Mandatory DFGs would not be met. 12.4.2 Additionally, no change to Policy would mean we do not apply the local land charge and do not recoup some of the funding to reinvest in further adaptations. This option is therefore not recommended.