Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Bibby introduced the report and explained that the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 placed a mandatory duty on Local Authorities to provide disabled facilities grants (DFGs).

The grant was available for adapting or providing facilities for a disabled person in a dwelling. The report detailed the amendments to the policy that had been necessary to align adaptations for the private sector or with those for local authority council housing.

The statutory limit for any DFG was set by Welsh Government (WG) and was currently £36,000 per application within a five-year period.  However, further applications could be made within this period if the customer’s medical condition had changed. That case would then be reviewed with the Occupational Therapist upon application.

The council must ensure that any adaptation works would provide the most

effective long-term solution to meet the needs of the disabled person.

Councillor Attridge, who was in attendance as an observer, declared a personal interest. 

The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) explained that the report had been considered at the Community and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee the previous month and the recommendations were supported.  Questions were asked, and answered, on the availability of Occupational Therapists and land charges.

RESOLVED:

That the updated Disabled Adaptations policy which covered both private homes and council stock properties be supported and approved.