Issue - meetings

This report has two purposes, the first is to ask cabinet to allow amendment to be made to the Council’s Private Housing Assistance Policy and the second is to give an explanation as to why we would like to make those changes.

RESOLVED:-

6.1       That Cabinet approve the revisions to Brent’s Private Housing Assistance Policy attached as Appendix A in relation to the following new and improved services, these being; 

·         (i) The introduction of the Discretionary Disability Adaptations Grant (DDAG);

·         (ii) The improvement of the current Small Works Grant (SWG);

·         (iii) The introduction of the Spend to Save Grant (SSG);

·         (iv) The introduction of the Hospital Discharge Assistance Service (HDAS);

·         (v) The introduction of the Acute Handyperson Service (AHAS).

6.2       That Cabinet grant delegated authority to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing to make any necessary minor typographical/graphical amendments to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy prior to its publication.

Councillor Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, introduced the report outlining its two purposes, the first is to ask cabinet to allow amendment to be made to the Council’s Private Housing Assistance Policy and the second is to give an explanation as to why we would like to make those changes.

Councillor Southwood stated that the Private Housing Assistance Policy gives the Council powers under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (RRO) to provide additional, more discretionary assistance grants rather than relying on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) for the provision of adaptations to the homes of disabled residents. 

In essence, Councillor Southwood stated that it is our intention to introduce additional and amend existing discretionary grants in order to improve independence and wellbeing for vulnerable and disabled Brent residents and prevent wider system demand on hospital, council and residential/community care services.

Councillor Southwood stated that these proposed changes to the RRO allows for an even more customer centred approach to be taken. This will see residents helped more quickly and with more bespoke services, irrespective of what tenure they live in.

RESOLVED:-

6.1       That Cabinet approve the revisions to Brent’s Private Housing Assistance Policy attached as Appendix A in relation to the following new and improved services, these being; 

·         (i) The introduction of the Discretionary Disability Adaptations Grant (DDAG);

·         (ii) The improvement of the current Small Works Grant (SWG);

·         (iii) The introduction of the Spend to Save Grant (SSG);

·         (iv) The introduction of the Hospital Discharge Assistance Service (HDAS);

·         (v) The introduction of the Acute Handyperson Service (AHAS).

6.2       That Cabinet grant delegated authority to the Strategic Director Community Wellbeing to make any necessary minor typographical/graphical amendments to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy prior to its publication.