Issue - decisions

This item was Chaired by Councillor Todd-Jones (Committee Chair)

 

Matter for Decision

 

The proposed Cambridgeshire Repairs and Adaptations Policy was aimed at helping people to live safely and independently at home. It stemmed from requirements for housing, health and social care services to work more closely together to enable people to manage their own health and wellbeing, and live independently in their communities for as long as possible.

It would replace Cambridge City Council’s current Grants & Loans Policy. It proposes four categories of financial assistance for eligible residents, together with the option to fund additional partnership projects or other services to meet the objectives of the policy.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

 

       i.          Approved the draft Adaptations & Repairs Policy shown at Appendix A of the report; and

     ii.          Delegated authority to the Strategic Director to make decisions - in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair & Vice Chair of Housing Scrutiny Committee, and Housing Opposition Spokesperson - around whether to convert capital Disabled Facilities Grant (DFC) to revenue, should the DFG grant conditions allow; to fund partnership projects or other services to meet the objectives of the draft Adaptations & Repairs Policy shown at Appendix A of the report.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The Committee received a report from the Housing Strategy Manager.

 

The Committee welcomed the report.

 

The Committee resolved by 5 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

19/22/HSC     Update on the Programme to Build New Council Homes Funded Through the Combined Authority

 

This item was Chaired by Councillor Todd-Jones (Committee Chair)

 

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on the programme to deliver 500

Council homes with funding from the Combined Authority.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

       i.          Noted the continued progress on the delivery of the Combined Authority programme.

     ii.          Noted the funding structure for the Combined Authority programme.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The Committee received a report from the Head of Housing Development Agency.

 

The Head of Housing Development Agency said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Confirmed that the number of fully adapted properties to be delivered exceeds the initial targets. The remaining properties in the programme would be built to lifetime’s homes standards and would be adapted at a future date to suit the occupant’s needs.

     ii.          Hill was a respected and trusted delivery partner who shared the council’s high standards.

   iii.          The majority of the properties in the pipeline would be 1 and 2 bedroom units as this had previously been identified as the type of properties in highest demand. Larger properties could be delivered on some schemes subject to evidence of demand.

 

Councillor McGerty questioned why the small site on the corner of Hill’s Avenue had not been included in the programme. Office’s confirmed that the estimated development cost per unit cost was too high. It was suggested that the site could be used temporarily as a community garden as it was currently an eyesore. The Strategic Director (SH) undertook to investigate this option.

 

The Committee resolved by 5 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.