Issue - items at meetings - Housing Adaptations Service update report

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

(1)               That the out-turn in 2013/14 and commitments in 2014/15 and beyond be noted.

(2)               That the work already being done in Housing to more proactively manage the demand for adaptations and make the best use of the capital funding in both council and private sector, be noted.

(3)               That it is agreed that an options paper come back to a future Housing Committee meeting to outline potential options to mitigate pressures identified.

7.1       The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which gave an update on council and private sector housing adaptations delivered in 2013/14 and commitments in 2014/15 and beyond.   The report highlighted capital funding pressures this year and going forward in light of the end of the Private Sector Housing capital programme, and the options for managing the demand for major housing adaptations where this exceeded the capital available.   The report was presented by the Head of Housing Strategy & Development – Private Sector Housing. 

7.2       Councillor Wilson referred to paragraph 3.22 of the report and asked about the mechanism for recycling equipment. The Operations Manager, Housing Adaptations OT Team explained that the council was keen to avoid waste. Adapted properties were re-let to people with a matching need. 

7.3       Councillor Farrow referred to recommendation 2.3 in the report.  He felt that people with disabilities were the most discriminated against in the city and stressed that the council as landlord must not discriminate.  Councillor Farrow asked for a firm date to be set for the submission of the options report.

7.4       The Chair emphasised that the future of both the private sector and council housing adaptations had to be considered.    He had asked officers to try and identify more houses with disabled facilities.  The options report would be brought to the committee as soon as the work was completed.

7.5       Councillor Mears remarked that the council should find money for adaptations as this work would lead to massive savings elsewhere in the council.  Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.1 relating to the Integrated Occupational Therapy and Technical Team within housing.  She asked for details about how much savings had been made on adaptations by Adult Social Care and how much they had contributed to adaptations work. 

7.6       The Operations Manager, Housing Adaptations OT Team explained that the average DFG grant last year was £9,000.  When the Better Outcomes Report was written in 2007 the average DFG was around £6,000.  Officers had not been able to gather local evidence although there were interesting individual case studies where it was known that the cost of adaptations saved a considerable amount compared to someone entering into residential care.   With regard to Adult Social Care, in addition to the DFG they did make provision of £100,000 each year in social care funding, which was discretionary.  

7.7       RESOLVED  - (1)  That the out-turn in 2013/14 and commitments in 2014/15 and beyond be noted.

(2)       That the work already being done in Housing to more proactively manage the demand for adaptations and make the best use of the capital funding in both council and private sector, be noted.

(3)       That it is agreed that an options paper come back to a future Housing Committee meeting to outline potential options to mitigate pressures identified.