Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Resolved to note that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robin Carter and Geoff Shacklock.  

Resolved to note that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robin Carter and Geoff Shacklock.  

Resolved to note that no declarations were made.  

Resolved to note that no declarations were made.  

Resolved to note that no notifications to address the meeting had been received.

Resolved to note that no notifications to address the meeting had been received.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2024 be signed and approved as an accurate record thereof. 

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2024 be signed and approved as an accurate record thereof. 

RESOLVED that Place & Environment Scrutiny Committee:

(i)              note the content of the report and approve the recommendations therein;

(ii)            commend the revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy to the executive on 16 January 2025 for approval

The circulated report of the Assistant Director of Regulatory Services, Iain Smith, was received in relation to the revised Private Sector Housing Policy which was appended to the report.

The purpose of the report was to seek approval to the proposed changes and recommendations to the policy as appended to the report, to enable more flexibility, equality and inclusivity to be provided for discretionary funding to deliver grants and focus on supporting vulnerable, elderly and disabled residents by streamlining procedures and offering further financial assistance.

The report was presented to committee by Amy Plank, Interim Strategic lead for Private Sector Housing.  

She explained that the current Private Sector Housing Policy was a combination of the policies previously used by the four former legacy councils of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough and had been in place since April 2021.

Over the last three years, areas of improvement had been identified whereby new and revised proposals had been suggested for incorporation into the policy in response to the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (RRO).

The refreshed policy enables grants to be provided for disabled facilities to allow people to live independently for longer in a more flexible and speedy manner. The report detailed the changes and proposals, and each was discussed individually with the reasons for the proposed changes being provided, along with alternative options for consideration. 

The chair invited Mrs Plank to present each item and the committee was able to ask questions and comment thereon. 

The proposals and recommendations are detailed below.

Proposal 1 – Discretionary DFG (Disabled Facilities Grants) Grant (Top-Up)

The report detailed that the current maximum Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant is £30,000 with the Top-Up being a maximum of £10,000.

The recommendation was that the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up) be increased to £20,000.

This was supported by the committee who considered this to be appropriate.

Proposal 2 and 2A– Means Test

Proposal 2 - All DFG works are means tested, except for children’s applications and applicants with passporting benefits.

The recommendation was that no means test be introduced for equipment cases (installation of stair-lift, or a ceiling track hoist) not associated with any other DFG funded building works, up to a maximum cost of £8,000.

Proposal 2A – Applicants with a confirmed client’s contribution are not eligible for a Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up). Those with passporting benefits and children’s applications are eligible for a discretionary DFH (Top-Up) as the parents are not means tested.

It was recommended that parents are means tested for children’s applications regarding the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-up) only.

This was supported by the committee.

Proposal 3 – Land Charges

It was recommended that the following changes be made to the application of a land charge on a property:

• No land charge would be placed on Through Floor Lifts (TFL) cases, including enabling works.
• No land charge be placed on stair-lifts.
• No land charge be placed for any amount below £200.
• No land charge be placed for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Resolved that the workplan and comments be noted.

The circulated workplan for Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee was received and noted.

It was suggested by committee members that the following additional items be considered by the Scrutiny Management Board for future inclusion on the Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee workplan:

• Home to School Transport Policy

It was noted that a report on the changes to the Home to School Transport Policy would be considered after it had been in operation for a full 12 month period.

• Green Burials

This could not be brought before a scrutiny committee, as currently there was not a policy to scrutinise.  This would need to be formulated and agreed by the Sustainable EAP first.   

Resolved that the workplan and comments be noted.

Resolved that there being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.15pm.