Issue - items at meetings - Discretionary Decorating and Gardening Schemes

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

(1)      That the following recommendations be approved to come into effect on 1 April 2015:

i) That the criteria, for those applying to both the discretionary schemes, be changed to age 70+ and in receipt of Housing Benefit, or on Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance and in receipt of Housing Benefit.

           Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are non means tested benefits for people under 65 years of age who have personal care and/or mobility needs as a result of a mental or physical disability. PIP is gradually replacing DLA.  Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means tested benefit for people aged 65 and over that helps with the extra costs of long-term illness or disability, which can be either physical and/or mental.

ii)  That the decorating vouchers are removed and replaced with decorating packs.

iii) That, for the discretionary decorating scheme, successful applicants are restricted to applying every other year.

62.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which provided the findings of the recent review of the Discretionary Decorating and Gardening Scheme and set out the recommended changes for consideration.      The report was presented by the Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement.

62.2    Councillor Mears did not agree to the criteria being changed to age 75.  The Chair concurred.

62.3    Councillor Peltzer Dunn opposed the proposal to increase the age eligibility.  He stressed that tenants were not in favour of this recommendation. 

62.4    Councillor Barnett stressed that many older people were on their own with no-one to help them.  The scheme could make a difference to people who were less able. 

62.5    Councillor Wilson asked what motivated the recommendation about the age eligibility.  The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement replied that there were currently no criteria around whether people could afford to decorate or whether they were capable of decorating themselves.  The report was recommending an age and financial cap. The initial idea was to ensure that more people who really needed assistance were given help.  Tenants were in favour of the decorating pack as it saved them money. 

62.6    Councillor Wilson asked if the scheme would fail if the age eligibility was set at 70 rather than 75.  The Housing Customer Service Team Leader replied that officers were happy to revise the age eligibility to age 70 if members requested this.  This would still give officers leeway and ensure that help was being targeted more effectively. 

62.7    Councillor Wilson asked if the age eligibility was raised to 70, would the saving made still be available for hardship fund.  The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement confirmed this was the case.  

62.8    The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement explained that there were different decorating packs for each room. 

62.9    Councillor Wilson moved that recommendation 2.1 (i) be changed to state that the criteria, for those applying to both the discretionary schemes, be changed to age 70 etc.  This motion was seconded by Councillor Peltzer Dunn.  The motion was voted on and carried.

62.10  RESOLVED - (1)     That the following recommendations be approved to come into effect on 1 April 2015:

i) That the criteria, for those applying to both the discretionary schemes, be changed to age 70+ and in receipt of Housing Benefit, or on Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance and in receipt of Housing Benefit.

           Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are non means tested benefits for people under 65 years of age who have personal care and/or mobility needs as a result of a mental or physical disability. PIP is gradually replacing DLA.  Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means tested benefit for people aged 65 and over that helps with the extra costs of long-term illness or disability, which can be either physical and/or mental.

ii)  That the decorating vouchers are removed and replaced with decorating packs.

iii) That, for the discretionary decorating scheme, successful applicants are restricted to applying every other year.