Decision details

Permission to release funds to enable the adaptations for those individuals who are eligible to receive the Disabled Facilities Grant.

The Cabinet Member with the Adults Portfolio introduced the report of the Group Director of People informing Members of the capital resources available for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) during 2022/23 and requesting that consideration be given to the release of those resources, to be utilised in accordance with this Council’s Disabled Facilities Grant and Regulatory Reform Order Policy 2021/23.

The submitted report stated that DFG’s assisted people to live independently by helping to fund suitable adaptations to their properties; the grants were means tested and were available to owner-occupiers, tenants of private rented properties and Housing Association tenants; and DFG’s were governed by housing legislation and had set conditions for payment, within those regulations.  The Council had a shared service agreement in place with Durham County Council to provide a Home Improvement Agency service to provide guidance and practical assistance to people who were older, disabled or on low incomes to claim a DFG to repair, improve or adapt their homes and that they also provided support to people until the work was completed and the contractor had been paid.

RESOLVED – (a)  That the allocation of £1,063,345, as detailed in the submitted report, to the Council to use for Disabled Facilities Grant adaptations in 2022/23, be noted.

(b)  That the capital funding to enable the funding to be allocated in accordance with this Council’s Disabled Facilities Grant and Regulatory Reform Order Policy 2021/23, be released.

REASON - To enable the adaptations for those individuals who are eligible to receive a DFG for 2022/23 to proceed.?????