Agenda item - Nick Nibberd - Head of Housing & Social Inclusion

76.1         Nick Hibberd – Head of Housing & Social Inclusion presented the following presentation on Housing for the Future.  The presentation included understanding the housing needs of older people, why the type of housing on offer needed to change and the common themes and trends that were emerging. There would be a 35% increase in people aged over 85+ by 2030. Extra Care housing offered significant opportunities.  Extra Care would form part of a pathway of support that is less intensive than the support provided by residential care homes and nursing homes.  Predictions were that there was a need for alternative long term provision for approximately 700 additional people by 2030. Where possible to plan ahead and avoid decisions made in a crisis or because of a lack of good alternatives.

The OPC were invited to sit on the Strategic Housing Partnership.

76.2         Issues raised and questions asked included:

1.      Further clarification was asked about the 3591 people in the current tenure, as it was felt that it was a small figure. The Head of Housing & Social Inclusion confirmed his understanding that this figure related to the number of older people in receipt of care packages.

2.      It was commented that that there needed to be further work done with housing associations, the private sector and voluntary sector as part of a joined up and cross-tenure approach to addressing older people’s housing needs.

3.      It was confirmed that the newest extra care schemes were in Brighton (Patching Lodge in Kemptown and New Larchwood in Coldean), but that commissioning work would look at the need and opportunity for provision across the city, including Hove and Portslade.

4.      It was agreed that it was important to build communities with both young and older people living together, with the younger people supporting their older neighbours.

5.      Some residents, particularly those living in the private sector housing, were not always as well connected to communities, residents associations and were living alone, in poor housing conditions, with financial difficulty causing fuel poverty.  A Public Health report had confirmed that there were links with poor housing and bad health.

6.      A question was asked about the priority given within the allocations policy to households who are working or making a ‘positive contribution’ and whether this limited access to sheltered housing and accessible housing.  It was explained that the working households policy does not apply to the allocation of sheltered housing and that accessible properties are advertised using mobility criteria and only let to applicants with appropriate accessibility needs.   

7.      Housing pathways would be looked at to see how older people could move from type of supported housing to another as part of a pathway of housing and care for older people.  

8.      What plans were there for sheltered provision for the next 5 years? Members noted that there were more plans for Extra Care housing. Commissioning work was being carried out which included looking at investment opportunities for building new housing on Housing Revenue Account land.  There were good opportunities to create a mix of housing which would include consideration of the needs of older people.

9.      There was discussion about the reduction of capital grant funding available from government and the need to develop new revenue-based funding models to develop new housing.   It was important to use all our resources creatively, by working with all sectors.

76.3         The Chair thanked the Head of Housing & Social Inclusion for his informative presentation and answering of questions.