Issue - meetings

This report sets out the proposed private sector housing grants assistance policy. The policy relates to discretionary assistance that will be made available to vulnerable residents to enable them to remain healthy and safe within their own homes.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to approve the private sector housing grants assistance policy.

The Committee received a report proposing a private sector housing grants assistance policy.

Members of the Committee expressed their support for the proposed policy and that they were pleased that it would be available to vulnerable residents. During consideration of the Policy, the following matters were noted:

a)            Availability of services to residents who would not qualify for assistance under the Policy. The Committee was informed that the Council’s Home Improvement Agency (HIA) provided a range of assistance to residents who would not qualify for a grant under the policy. This included providing assistance in finding contractors to undertake privately funded works.

b)            Publication and awareness of Policy. The Committee was informed that the Policy would be published on the Council’s website, and be featured in both e-Borough Insight and Borough Insight magazines to raise awareness of its availability. Councillors’ assistance in raising awareness of the Policy would be welcomed by officers, but it was requested that information regarding it not be disseminated until the Policy had been fully launched. The Committee noted that there were no plans to increase staffing levels as a result of the introduction of the Policy, so it would be necessary to ensure that the service wasn’t over-stretched, and that all grants issued could be administered within existing resources.

c)            Repayment of grants in the event of a property sale. The Committee was informed that grants over £1,000 would be registered as a legal charge against the adapted property, and that repayment of that sum would be sought if the property was sold within 10 years of the works being undertaken. This process would be operated with sensitivity however, and a decision on whether to require repayment would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

d)            Minimum age of applicants. The Committee was informed that all applicants for a grant under the Policy would need to be 18 years of age, or older.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to approve the Private Sector Housing Grants Assistance Policy.