The Committee received a report providing an update on the Home Improvement Agency and the work it undertook to utilise the annual Disabled Facilities Grant received by the Council via the Better Care Fund.

The HIA operated, as required, in line with the Council’s Assistance Policy which was reviewed and approved in 2019 and included the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) Order 2002 and which involved the adoption of a Private Sector renewal Strategy.

Members noted that the Home Improvement Agency (HIA), awarded grants to eligible residents to enable them to live independently at home, whether in privately rented or Housing Association accommodation.  The HIA also co-ordinated the Handyperson Service, provided assistance and advice to residents from a budget of £874,000 in 2022/2023.  Officers agreed to confirm the funding from central Government for 2023/2024, when received.

Officers reported that the capacity of the team had increased from 20 to 30 hours of administration, and 9 hours of casual case worker resource to 83 hours of a permanent resource.  As a result good progress was being made to clear the backlog of enquiries and applications that had built up in the pandemic.  This would be improved with the recruitment of a Manager for the team and a full time Surveyor, which hitherto was difficult to recruit.  This would create a team of five who would be in a stronger position to meet demand.  Officers advised that since January 2022, 54 applications from 2019 to 2021 had been reviewed and progressed.  The team was now focussing on the 111 open cases from April 2021 onwards and had managed to cut the waiting time for applications from 6 to 9 months to 4 to 6 months.

The Committee was informed that the team faced challenges.  These included access to surveyor resources, the cost increases for materials and labour, access to contractors to undertake works and the availability of equipment from suppliers.  In order to address the shortage of contractors Officers had been granted a time-limited waiver in July 2021 which was in the process of being re-applied for.

Members agreed that if an in-house Surveyor could not be recruited, noting the current level of support received which was much appreciated by the team, it would be sensible to engage a consultancy agency specialising in this area of work.

With regard to increased costs, Officers had found that the current non means- tested pot of £2,500 was insufficient to complete a number of minor works.  Members were content therefore to approve that the non means-tested threshold for small grant applications should increase to £5,000 and the Dementia funding pot should also increase to £5,000.  The funding to support timely hospital discharge would remain at £7,500.  Officers would continue to monitor resources and how best they could be allocated, reporting back to the Committee if it became necessary to increase them.

Members were impressed with the HIA and asked Officers to consider whether expansion of the Handyperson Service (currently 2 days per week) was feasible.  For example, increasing the service to 5 days and to other areas such as Gardening and other paid for services and how that could be delivered.  This would be a subject for discussion with Housing Officers including the possibility of making the service available to Council tenants.

Officers were also asked to consider a promotion plan and explore links with
Runnymede Access Liaison Group (RALG), and Citizens Advice Runnymede and Spelthorne.  In respect of the award scheme hosted by RALG, it was suggested theCouncil could nominate contractors undertaking work for the HIA for the ‘RALG Shield’, to recognise the achievement by a Group or Service in serving the needs of Disabled People.

Officers agreed to consider a revision to the policy in respect of Council Tax Support as suggested at the meeting and bring any proposed amendments to a future meeting.

RESOLVED that –

i)          in the event of recruitment for an HIA Surveyorpost being unsuccessful, he Council procures and engages aspecialist consultant, to support with the procurement ofworks, funded by the Disabled Facilities Grant be approved; and

ii)         the increase of the non means-tested threshold forsmall grant applications, from £2,500 to £5,000, be approved, in response toincreased costs experienced.