Issue - items at meetings - Procurement of Housing and Adult Social Care Adaptations Framework Agreement

Report of the Strategic Director: Place (copy attached).

(1)               The procurement of a framework agreement for minor and major adaptations works in council homes and in private sector housing with a term of three years and an option to extend for one year be approved;

(2)               That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Place to carry out the procurement of the framework agreement referred to in 2.2 above including the award and letting of the framework agreement; and

(3)               That delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Place to grant a one year extension to the framework agreement referred to in 2.2 above be agreed should he/she consider it appropriate at the relevant time.

173.1    Councillor Wakefield introduced the report which sought approval for the tendering of a framework agreement to provide for minor and major adaptations in council homes and in private sector housing in Brighton and Hove.

173.2    Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report and stated that he believed it was an excellent idea and noted that the Government had recently announced proposals to support the elderly in their homes and asked if and when details were received that they be shared with councillors.

173.3    Councillor Jarrett stated that officers were awaiting information on the levels of funding but once this was known it would be made available to Members.  He also believed that the proposal was a good idea and one that he felt would be of benefit to the council and tenants.

173.4    RESOLVED:

(1)         The procurement of a framework agreement for minor and major adaptations works in council homes and in private sector housing with a term of three years and an option to extend for one year be approved;

(2)         That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Place to carry out the procurement of the framework agreement referred to in 2.2 above including the award and letting of the framework agreement; and

(3)         That delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Place to grant a one year extension to the framework agreement referred to in 2.2 above be agreed should he/she consider it appropriate at the relevant time.

Report of Strategic Director Place (copy attached).

(1)               That the report be noted. 

(2)               That it be noted that the report would be considered by the Cabinet on the 19^th January, 2012.

71.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Strategic Director Place which sought Cabinet approval for the tendering of a framework agreement to provide for minor and major adaptations in council homes and in private sector housing in Brighton & Hove.  The report was submitted to the Cabinet Member Meeting for information.

71.2    The Cabinet Member stated that the framework agreement was good news.  It would be helpful for Housing and Adult Social Care to have a joined up approach. 

71.3    The Operations Manager/Housing Adaptations OT Team presented the report.  She stated that the consultation included representatives of the Tenant Disability Network and the Federation of Disabled People.

71.4    Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to the recommendations.  He asked when the timetable for implementation would be in place.  The Operations Manager replied that this would be in place by late summer/autumn.

71.5    Councillor Farrow asked how the arrangements and partnership with Mears Ltd could work on the Decent Homes project.   The Operations Manager replied that there had been joint working with Mears already.  There were a number of questions added to the Decent Homes checklist to help identify new needs, someone with a disability not already known to the housing adaptations service and where replacing like for like would not meet the long term need.  Cases with the housing adaptations OT team were being cross referenced against the Decent Homes Programme.  Adaptations were being picked up at this time.  

71.6    The Cabinet Member stressed that the whole idea of adaptations was to promote equity for disabled people to allow them to have more independence in their homes and community.

71.7    RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted. 

(2)       That it be noted that the report would be considered by Cabinet on the 19 January, 2012.