Chichester District Council
Issue

Issue - meetings

West Sussex Disabled Adaptations Policy

Meeting: 05/11/2019 - Cabinet (Item 64)

64 Disabled Facilities Grants Policy 2020 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and make the following resolutionsas set out below:

 

1.    That the proposed West Sussex Disabled Facilities Grant Policy 2020 to 2024 contained in Appendix 1 to this report be approved.

2.    That the Cabinet approves delegated powers for the Divisional Manager for Housing Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to make amendments and updates to the Policy.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the proposed West Sussex Disabled Facilities Grant Policy 2020 to 2024 contained in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

2.    That delegated powers be approved to the Divisional Manager for Housing Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments and updates to the policy.

Minutes:

Mrs Graves introduced the item. She explained that the Disabled Facilities Grant is a mandatory grant which was introduced to enable disabled persons on low income to live independently. The funds can be used for wet rooms, stair lifts, ramps, kitchen adaptions and extensions to a maximum of £30,000. In 2015 the management of funds changed so funding was no longer provided by central government and instead comes from a larger pooled Better Care fund managed by West Sussex County Council. In September 2017 the Cabinet agreed a more flexible way of using the funds in order to reach the greatest number of residents. Subsequently the local district and borough councils have collaborated to produce the new Disabled Facilities Grants Policy. The new Policy provides a more consistent approach across the county and offers disabled residents a package of grants to reduce hospital stays, provide a safe, warm home and help to move to a more suitable property. Mrs Graves explained that the Policy is pioneering based on the research carried out which indicates that there are no other policies of this type.

 

Mrs Taylor supported the Policy and indicated the positive impact of assisting more residents to recover from hospital in their own home.

 

Mr Briscoe and Mrs Lintill requested clarification relating to recommendation two and how amendments will be agreed my multi agencies. Mrs Reed confirmed that the County Adaptations Manager would be responsible for negotiating amendments with all parties. Mrs Shepherd added that if in the unlikely event that one authority fundamentally disagreed with a proposal it would be their choice whether to continue with the partnership or work independently. Mrs Shepherd then confirmed that all the local authorities involved would need to seek Cabinet approval in order for the Policy to commence from 1 April 2020.

 

Decision

 

The Cabinet then voted unanimously to make the resolutions below.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the proposed West Sussex Disabled Facilities Grant Policy 2020 to 2024 contained in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

2.    That delegated powers be approved to the Divisional Manager for Housing Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make amendments and updates to the policy.


 

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