Issue - meetings

To consider an increase in the service charges for Extra Care following the ending of Future Lives programme funding for housing related support.

(Report attached)

Members considered a report setting out proposals to increase existing service charges relating to communal facilities at St. David’s House and Queen’s Cottages and asking that they note that, in future, costs for providing housing-related personal support would be borne by individual tenants.

Officers explained that the Council was having to make these changes in response to cuts to funding from Worcestershire County Council as part of its Future Lives programme, although there was a recognition that the County Council was itself under serious financial pressure. The Committee was informed that Officers’ primary aim in developing the current proposals was to maintain services to vulnerable tenants whilst ensuring that tenants were not placed under undue financial strain.

Tenants of the properties concerned and their families had been briefed in detail on the implications of what was being proposed and Officers and Members who had been present were pleased to be able to report that there was a high level of understanding and support for the measures that were being recommended. It was noted that the Council was attempting to provide this service on a break-even basis and that a number of self-funding tenants would be better off as a result of the changes. There was also a recognition that, historically, certain charges had been set at an unrealistically low level and the proposals would remedy this situation.

RECOMMENDED that

1)            service charges for the cost of providing communal  facilities at St. David’s House and Queen’s Cottages be increased to reflect the actual cost of providing them;

2)            charges to apply from Monday 6th October 2014 and to be reviewed on an annual basis as part of the Council’s fees and charges process; and

 RESOLVED that 

3)         it be noted that, in future all residents of St. David’s House and Queen’s Cottages will be charged for housing related personal support, which is currently paid for some residents by the Worcestershire County Council Supporting People Fund, as this is being withdrawn.