Agenda item

Cabinet:

·             Approved the Private Housing Health Assistance Policy set out in Appendix 1of the report.

·             Noted the expected positive impacts of the policy and the improvements in the health and wellbeing of the residents of Havering as outlined in the Equalities & Health Impact Assessment for the Private Housing Health Assistance Policy.

Councillor Jason Frost, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Adult Care Services, presented the report to Cabinet.  Cllr Frost stated that he was delighted to bring this matter to Cabinet Members for approval as the policy helps to address a need which has been very specific to the demographics of Havering.

Under the current process the Council awards Discretionary Facilities Grants (DFG’s) to people who meet the eligibility criteria which are set nationally.  These are mandatory grants the Council must provide if the eligibility criteria are met.

DFG funding has changed recently, the level of funding for the current financial year has increased as expected to £1.812 million which is an uplift of 8%.  The funds now come through the Better Care Fund.

The Policy describes what the Council already does to deliver these mandatory DFGs, this will not change. It also confirms how the Council will use powers under the Regulatory reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002, (RRO) in relation to the provision of discretionary housing grants to people in need (i.e. older people, people with disabilities [adults & children], and people [adults and children] with chronic health conditions). The main aims of the policy are to help people in need through the use of housing grants to help them improve their housing conditions in order to:

• reduce the risk of injuries and ill health;
• help people maintain their health and wellbeing;
• enable people to remain independent for as long as possible;
• minimise pressures on local health and social care services.

The new policy will provide the powers to use the DFG funds more flexibly. The new discretionary grants in the policy can provide:

·       a DFG “top-up” to facilitate complex home adaptations that cost more than £30,000 (the national limit of DFGs)

·       discretionary DFG assistance for people who would suffer financial hardship to fund their home adaptations through the current DFG process

·       assistance to help disabled people move to a new home that meets their needs where the Council think this is the best way of meeting their needs

·       help to reduce the risk of delayed hospital discharges

·       essential home repairs to reduce hazards and health risks

·       dementia aids, adaptations and assistive technology

·       improved security arrangements to reduce risks associated with domestic violence

The cost of the additional grants will be met within the funding available and the provision of the discretionary grants is subject to the availability of funds from the Batter Care Fund.

There was an amendment to the report at page 68 of the agenda. In the third box down, “Applicant eligibility” the word “exasperated” should be replaced by “exacerbated”.

Cabinet:

·             Approved the Private Housing Health Assistance Policy set out in Appendix 1of the report.

·             Noted the expected positive impacts of the policy and the improvements in the health and wellbeing of the residents of Havering as outlined in the Equalities & Health Impact Assessment for the Private Housing Health Assistance Policy.