Issue - meetings

The Housing Assistance Policy sets out to ensure that the Council meets our statutory obligations in the delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) for our residents.

The Policy sets out how the Council will provide financial assistance to enable residents to remain independent in their homes, for as long as possible, through disabled adaptations.

Recommendation

That the Policy and Resources Committee to agree the Housing Assistance Policy.

The Policy and Resources Committee considered a report of the Housing Assistance Policy which sets out to ensure that the Council meets its’ statutory obligations for the delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) for its’ residents.

The Policy set out how the Council will provide financial assistance to enable residents to remain independent in their homes, for as long as possible, through disabled adaptations.

Deborah Allen, Housing Operations Manager, presented the report and explained that the report also set out guidance for a discretionary grant which was a ‘top up’ if the original grant did not cover the full cost. All funding was allocated by Herts County Council on an annual basis from the Better Care Fund.

Councillor Sarah Bedford, Lead Member for Housing and Public Health, explained that the Policy dated back to 2009 and Officers wanted to update it and make it more user friendly. As stated in the report, the use of DFG should reduce the need for residential care, hospital emissions and speed hospital discharge. The additional DSG provided much needed flexibility. There were currently delays in orthopedic inspections being carried out to authorise the work going ahead.

In response to Members questions regarding the administration of the DFG’s, the Director of Finance explained that the Hertfordshire Building Control Company was jointly owned by all the districts in the county other than Watford and St. Albans and provided the DFG assessments for TRDC. The Director of Finance would find out information regarding the right to appeal and report back.

The appeals process would be a stand-alone document. Members asked to receive a link to the appeals process.

Councillor Sara Bedford proposed to move the Officers recommendations. This was seconded by the Chair.

RESOLVED: that the Policy and Resources Committee Unanimously AGREED the Housing Assistance Policy.