Decision details

The Private Sector Housing Manager presented a report regarding the Housing Assistance Policy 2026.

The Committee was advised that the purpose of the policy was to support disabled and vulnerable individuals to remain living independently in their own homes. Assistance typically included adaptations such as stairlifts, level-access showers and extensions to facilitate ground-floor living arrangements.

Members noted that, whilst the majority of the elements of mandatory grants were prescribed by legislation, the Council was required to maintain a local policy to set out its approach to a number of discretionary elements for the application of discretionary funding. This included the provision of top-up funding where the cost of necessary adaptations exceeded the grant funding available.

The revised policy had been developed collaboratively by officers from all Worcestershire local authorities. The shared approach was intended to improve the customer experience, ensure consistency across the county and support preparations for Local Government Reorganisation.

The Committee was informed that the principal amendments to the 2024 policy had been made to achieve three key objectives:

·       To establish a common policy across Worcestershire authorities and provide greater clarity and consistency of arrangements.

·       To adopt nationally recognised performance targets in order to improve delivery timescales for urgent and non-urgent, as well as complex and non-complex, cases.

·       To remove additional discretionary fees for high-value adaptations, thereby providing greater flexibility to approve exceptional cases.

Members also noted that the policy recognised the Armed Forces Covenant and set out how the Council would work with local organisations to ensure that serving personnel, veterans and their families received appropriate support where required.

In relation to funding, the Committee was advised that the revised policy would not place any additional financial burden on the Council. Funding for housing assistance was provided by Government through the Better Care Fund and through recycled funding arising from previous assistance cases where repayment conditions had been triggered.

In concluding the presentation, the Private Sector Housing Manager advised that the policy would enable the Council to meet its statutory responsibilities, provide a fair and transparent framework for housing assistance, support residents to remain independent in their homes, improve energy efficiency and help address service failures where identified.

Following presentation of the report, the Committee considered the recommendations that had been proposed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held the previous evening as set out below:

RECOMMENDED that

The following amendments be made to the Housing Assistance Policy 2026:

1) Wording be added to the first paragraph of section 13 – Decisions, Notifications and Redeterminations, to read: “The Council will do everything it can to fast track cases where applicants have rapidly progressing or terminal conditions.”

2) Information is set out at the beginning of the document on who is eligible to apply under the Policy (both for the Disabled Facilities Grant and any discretionary assistance set out under the Policy).

3) That the financial eligibility criteria (i.e. income and savings test limits and contribution thresholds for amounts above the limit) are clearly set out in the Policy and communicated through information on the Disabled Facilities Grant available on the Council’s website.

4) That the Policy is accessible in the languages of communities identified as being under-represented in accessing Disabled Facilities Grant.

In considering the recommendations proposed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Members were advised that arrangements were already in place to prioritise applications involving residents who were receiving end-of-life or palliative care, or who were living with a rapidly progressing illness. Occupational Therapists were able to award an additional thirty priority points at the start of the assessment process, enabling such cases to be fast-tracked where appropriate. Works would then be resolved within fifty-five days, where possible. It was acknowledged that the report could be amended to provide greater clarity regarding these arrangements and the role of Occupational Therapists in prioritising cases.

With regard to eligibility criteria, officers confirmed that the relevant information was already contained within the policy. However, it was recognised that further clarification could be incorporated to make the criteria easier for applicants to understand.

Members also considered comments relating to the financial eligibility criteria. Officers explained that the means-testing process was complex and assessed a range of factors, including household income, savings and pension arrangements. As a result, it was not possible to provide fixed income or savings thresholds within the policy. It was further noted that the means-testing framework was set by central Government and subject to periodic amendment. To assist applicants, officers suggested that links to further information regarding the means-testing process could be provided on the Council’s website.

Members also raised questions regarding the cost of translation services and the associated resource implications.

Following detailed discussions regarding the proposed recommendations, Members agreed to note the comments provided by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED that

1) The Housing Assistance Policy be approved and adopted; and

2) Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Community and Housing Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to agree any revisions to the Housing Assistance Policy and in line with any legislative or government guidance updates.