Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Committee Members Councillor Julie Ashley-Wren (Vice Chair), Kamal Choudhury and Mason Humberstone.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members are invited to consider the revised Aids and Adaptations Policy as a piece of policy development work ahead of the policy being presented to the Cabinet.

Report and presentation attached.

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Aids and Adaptation Project Manager, who introduced the Aids and Adaptations team. It was explained that the current policy, approved in March 2020, outlined the scope of adaptations, council responsibilities and service expectations. Tenants were eligible for adaptations based on health conditions such as sight, hearing, speech impairment, mental or physical disabilities. It was noted that adaptations had to be necessary, appropriate, reasonable, and practical to be approved by the Council, in accordance with the Equalities Act 2010 and the Housing, Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

The Aids and Adaptation Project Manager outlined the range of adaptations available, from minor adaptations such as grab rails and ramps to major adaptations including stairlifts or bathroom adaptations. The Committee was informed that the Aids and Adaptations Policy had been reviewed in June 2024, with no significant changes proposed. The outcome of the review is scheduled to be presented to Cabinet in March 2025.

Members raised concerns about the reasons for refusal of adaptations and the lack of transparency within the policy. They requested a detailed list of refusal criteria to be included. Officers stated that decisions were decided on a case-by-case basis, allowing for individual assessments based on the tenant’s needs and the suitability of the property. Members suggested that housing policy should prioritise individuals rather than properties, despite ongoing pressures from the housing list. Members also expressed concerns that tenants should not feel forced to relocate rather than completing adaptations to their current property. 

Officers reassured Members that the Aids and Adaptation team work closely with other Council departments to provide support and suitable alternatives, such as Independent Living Schemes where additional support for tenants is available, without enforcing relocation. They clarified that while incentives for downsizing were available, no tenant would be forced to move. If a tenant chose to remain in the property, the Council would assess what reasonable adaptations could be made.

Further discussion focused on the interpretation of ‘reasonable’ adaptations, with Members seeking greater clarity on which types were more likely to be approved. Officers explained that each case was assessed individually based on the tenant’s needs and the suitability of the property. The principle of reasonableness needed to underpin any decision that is reached about whether an adaptation could be carried out.

It was noted that Council officers worked alongside Occupational Therapists (OT’s) to assess properties and recommend necessary adaptations. However, it was acknowledged that some recommendations might not be structurally or logistically feasible and would need a surveyor assessment regarding the feasibility of OT’s recommendation. Members were informed that OT’s recommendations are not standardised which makes it challenging to establish requirements for the tenant, and careful consideration is needed on a case-by-case basis. 

Members raised concerns that the policy did not fully consider tenants’ disabilities when assessing under-occupation. Members sought clarification on this issue, highlighting the potential negative impact of relocation on residents’ safety, security and independence. In response, Officers confirmed that following guidance from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was no Urgent Part I Business

To consider the following motions:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

There was no Urgent Part II Business.