Issue - meetings

That the draft Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy as set out in the Appendix to the Cabinet report be approved

Decision

That the draft Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy as set out in the Appendix to the Cabinet report be approved.

Corporate objectives

The Private Sector assistance policy contributes to following corporate objectives:

·         A clean, safe and enjoyable environment

·         Providing good quality affordable homes, in particular for those most in need

·         Delivering an efficient modern council

Deputy Monitoring Officer comments:

The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 provides that that local authorities may for the purpose of improving living conditions provide to its residents any form of assistance, either directly or indirectly, to enable them to improve their homes.

In order to use these powers, local housing authorities must have adopted a policy setting out the assistance to be provided.

Deputy S151 Officer comments:

This policy is funded through the disabled facilities grant and hence the criteria is outlined in the grant conditions.

Advice

Councillor Griffiths introduced the report to members and said that this policy replaces the one adopted in 2013 and includes grants available for the private sector that were not available before. The majority of these grants will be allocated for the mandatory disabled grant. Previously, there had been a low level take up of these loans and when the team moved under Housing, it provided an opportunity to review the policy to include current central government funding and be able to provide broader assistance to people who want to stay in their homes. The policy was developed in consultation with Herts County Council Adult Care Services and the Clinical Commissioning Group who are aware of the grant funding. The policy went to Housing & Community OSC and they had no additional comments.

Councillor Birnie asked for clarification that this funding was only available for private sector.
M Gaynor said the mandatory disabled grant was for private sector homes as adaptations could be done with the council’s housing stock.

Councillor Tindall asked how the funding would be allocated – first come first serve or would it be allocated on a case by case basis.

Councillor Griffiths said every application would be looked at individually to see what grant could be given and the possibility of it being paid back.
Councillor Tindall asked if this money could be carried over into a new financial year.
Councillor Griffiths said the winter allowance top up that was introduced two years ago had not been spent by the end of the financial year so the department contacted MHCLG to ask if they wanted the money back and they allowed us to carry it over as long as it could be spent in the first quarter.

Recommendations agreed