Agenda item

This report provides a summary of the activity relating to Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) during quarters 1 to 3 of 2022/23.

The Council had a statutory duty to provide financial assistance to those who qualified for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to contribute towards adaptations which help them to safely access their home and the facilities within it.  Examples of adaptations included the installation of stair-lifts, ramps, through floor lifts, level access showers, wash and dry toilets and door widening.  In some instances, funding contributed towards extensions or conversions of existing dwellings. All applications were required to be supported by a Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Occupational Therapist. 

The funding was provided as a capital grant from government via the Better Care Fund and could fund adaptations for owner occupiers, private tenants, or tenants of private registered providers (housing associations).  Adaptations for council tenants were required to be funded through the Housing Revenue Account.

The service was provided within Public Protection, with installations procured using a Lincolnshire Framework used by all Lincolnshire district councils. The current framework provided the Council with access to 18 contractors.  Stairlifts and modular access ramps were procured under separate arrangements.  Applicants could also choose to engage their own contractor and project manage the works themselves.

The government allocation for DFGs for 2022/23 was £975,298, actual and committed spend at the end of quarter 3 against budget was £597,453.  Recommendations had increased during 2022/23 as LCC has focused additional resource in South Kesteven.

The maximum entitlement of a mandatory DFG was set in legislation at £30,000.  The average value of individual grants awarded in 2022/23 was £4,818, however, in recent years increased building costs had led to some schemes such as extensions substantially exceeding the maximum limit. Whilst these form a small proportion of adaptations, the time taken to support these cases was considerable.  To further assist, the Council’s discretionary policy allowed for up to a ‘top up’ of £10,000 to be awarded, subject to a means test.  Nearly 76% of applications approved in 2022/23 were made by owner-occupiers, with the average age being 66 years old.  To increase capacity within the team to meet demand, the surveyor resource was increased and the role was now fully embedded into the team.  An apprentice had also been appointed and would commence in February 2023.  As the Social Care Authority, LCC had powers and duties under the Care Act relating to the provision of aids and equipment.  These included a duty to provide minor adaptations up to the value of £1,000 as well as other equipment to any value.

During discussion, Members raised the following points:

·            The report was welcomed

·            Was the scheme working well?  There had been delays in the past.

·            A Member requested a breakdown by area of the number of applications received.

·            Was a fixed proportion of the cost awarded or was the scheme means-tested?

·            As the HRA was a separate system for tenants, could statistics be provided?

·            Was the total amount of funding allocated likely to be spent by the year end?

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property confirmed that past delays had improved through Lincolnshire County Council.  A breakdown of applications by area could be provided as requested.  The Cabinet Member clarified that the implementation of stairlifts and ramps were not means-tested.  The main aim was to get people safely discharged from hospital. 

The Assistant Direction for Public Protection confirmed that there had been some delays in delivery through the last Quarter due to supplies of materials and labour issues.  The funds had been largely committed but any surplus amount of funding may roll over to the next year.

ACTION

That Members received a breakdown of applications received by area.

It was proposed, seconded, and AGREED:

That the Committee:

a)             Noted the progress on the delivery of disabled facilities grants during 2022/23.