Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Services to People.

This report has been placed on the agenda following a request from the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 3 March 2014 for information relating to the current position with regard to the administration of the Disabled Facilities Grant including the position of those referrals which had been categorised as low priority.

The report describes the nature of the Disabled Facilities Grant which is a mandatory grant, with qualifying criteria set at national level. Work is largely demand led and therefore the volume of work can vary and demand is actively managed to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are prioritised.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Warren on 07800 618896 or email: mark.warren@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Services to People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) describing the nature of the Disabled Facilities Grant which is a mandatory grant, with qualifying criteria set at national level.   The report outlined the demand led nature of the work and therefore that the volume of work could vary and that demand was actively managed to ensure that those with the most urgent needs were prioritised.

It was reported that this item has been placed on the agenda following a request from the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 3 March 2014 for information relating to the current position with regard to the administration of the Disabled Facilities Grant including the position of those referrals which had been categorised as low priority.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care Services (Councillor Keith Holloway) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The decision to operate a waiting list for low priority applicants had been made as demand had exceeded available funding.

·         Paediatric cases were not means tested, however other cases could be means tested where the cost of an adaptation rose above £30,000.

·         A discussion took place around the re-use of equipment.  In response it was stated that many adaptations were bespoke for a particular property and re-use would often be difficult.  Additionally, there were issues around the serviceability and life-span of re-used equipment.

·         Concern was expressed about the length of time that applicants had to wait for their adaptation and further information was requested on this matter within future performance reports.

·         2013/14 was the first year that Stockport had introduced a waiting list and there not currently an anticipation that it would need to do so again in 2014/15.

RESOVLED – That the report be noted.