Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Hughes introduced the report and explained that the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 placed a mandatory duty on Local Authorities to provide Disabled Dacilities Grants.  The grant was available for adapting or providing facilities for a disabled person in a dwelling.

            As part of the Internal Audit review of the Disabled Facilities Grant service in June 2018, it was identified that the current policy required a review in order to make the process and detail clearer and easier to understand.

            Work had been ongoing since then to identify and implement process improvements to further expedite delivery and recommendations for a policy exemption were put forward and approved in September 2020 and the approved changes had been incorporated into the revised policy.

            A significant amount of work had also been carried out to ensure that customers, and the professionals who supported them, had all of the relevant information at the earliest opportunity.  That work was now reflected in the revised policy and appended to the report.     

            The Benefits Manager explained that a significant amount of work had also been carried out to ensure that customers, and the professionals who supported them, had all of the relevant information at the earliest opportunity.  That work was reflected in the revised policy.   She explained that the maimum amount of grant available in Wales was £36,000 per application within a five year period.  However, applications could be made within that period if the customers condition had changed.  Where the application was for an adaptation under £10,000, those medium sized cases would no longer require a means tes.  For other applications, the amount of the grant would vary from zero to the maximum grant depending on the cost of the approved works and the financial circumstances of the applicant. 

Councillor Bithell welcomed the revised timescales for delivery of adaptations as outlined in the appendix to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report and the revised Disabled Facilities Grant Policy be supported.