Agenda item

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing that sought approval to update and supersede the City Council Housing Assistance Policy approved in 2022 to take account of national updates and to expand on areas not previously covered. Appendices to the report provided: the Housing Assistance Policy - Disabled Facilities Grant (mandatory and discretionary) 2025; and an Equality Impact Assessment

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG’s) were available to disabled people when works to adapt their home were assessed necessary and appropriate to meet their needs and when it was reasonable and practicable to carry them out having regard to the age and condition of the dwelling. Elements of the grant were mandatory, and others could be provided at the discretion of the Council (discretionary grants).

The report seeks approval to update and supersede the City Council Housing Assistance Policy approved in 2022 to take account of national updates and to expand on areas not previously covered. The revised Policy was comprehensive, it included recommendations from Foundations, the nationally approved body for the delivery of disabled facilities grants in England, and described the various processes applied.

By updating the Policy, there was greater clarity on the mandatory grants, discretionary grants, the criteria and the process followed and would enable more flexible arrangements for applicants.

The changes included:

1.  The legal framework had been updated and expanded to include the City Council response to applications relating to armed forces personnel. This included clarity on situations where the Ministry of Defence were solely responsible.

2.  Strategic alignment with the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2026 and the One Coventry Plan 2022-2030.

3.  Updates to reflect the needs of an ageing population but equally how DFG could and should support children and young adults with disability. The revised Policy enabled funds to be utilised for people who needed it the most. It was recognised that the discretionary non means tested limit allowed everyone regardless of financial situation access to the funds. The removal of the discretionary non means test ensured that funds were allocated to those who needed the support. The introduction of the contribution grant ensured that common adaptations such as level access showers could be completed without any financial demand on the applicant. It outlined the mandatory grants process, specified the response and eligibility criteria and how this would be applied in practice.

4.  It outlined the discretionary grants available, response and eligibility criteria and the process to be followed. The new parameters and governance around the application and authorisation of grants were explicitly set out in the revised Policy to aid objective decision making.

5.  The Policy reinstated the statutory Local Land Charge for owner occupiers capping this to a total of £10,000 and introduced land charges for elements of the discretionary grants.

6.  The delegation of Top Up Grants (TUG) funding agreements of up to £10,000 to the Team Manager for DFG and agreement for a maximum of £30,000 top up funding to an adaptation's Approval Panel. Recent rising costs of labour and materials had increased costs of works. Top up grants were necessary to ensure complex work could be completed and all needs of the person were met.

7.  A revised application process to be followed, and this included a clearly defined self-managed application process and Landlord applications.

8.  Recognition of the need for an ‘exceptional case’ process enabling a decision by the Assistant Director, for Adult Social Care.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1)  Approves the adoption of the revised Housing Assistance Policy - Disabled Facilities Grant 2025 attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

2)  Delegates to the Director of Adult Services and Housing, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, authority to alter the financial limits within the Housing Assistant Policy dependant on available resources and demand.