Agenda item

To consider adoption of the policy and enable eligible clients to be more consistently assisted across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (report of the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership which asked the Policy Development Panel to consider adoption of the policy and enable eligible clients to be more consistently assisted across the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

The Affordable and Accessible Homes Service Manager and the Healthy and Accessible Homes (Housing) Lead were in attendance for the item.

The Healthy and Accessible Homes (Housing) Lead introduced the report and highlighted the following main points:

• The Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance Policy was a new policy which would be adopted across all Lincolnshire district councils;
• The policy had been developed as part of the Lincolnshire Homes for Independence blueprint and the Housing Health and Care Delivery Plan;
• The policy was to be presented to all three authorities of the S&ELCP prior to adoption by respective Executives and Cabinets;
• The purpose of the Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance Policy was to provide financial assistance in order to keep properties in a good condition.
• The policy included conditions under which assistance would be granted;
• The Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance was at Appendix A.
• The Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance explanatory notes were at Appendix B; and
• Superseded policy provisions for discretionary assistance was outlined at Appendix C.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the policy which was greatly needed within the current economic climate;
• Members acknowledged the huge amount of work that had been undertaken in the production of the policy;
• Members asked whether adaptations to properties for tenants were made prior to a build. Did the policy include changes to approved plans.
  • The Affordable and Accessible Homes Service Manager clarified that the policy was aimed primarily at owner-occupiers rather than tenants, who did not have the financial means to maintain appropriate housing conditions for their needs.
• Members asked whether the size of grants considered inflationary increases in the cost of labour and materials. Would this be reviewed annually?
  • The Affordable and Accessible Homes Service Manager confirmed that:
    • The allowance for cost of works had been increased in the policy; and
    • Ongoing inflationary increases had not been included however this would be kept under review.

AGREED:

That following consideration of the Lincolnshire Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance Policy by the Policy Development Panel, the comments of the Panel be noted prior to presentation of the policy at Cabinet.