Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Executive Board Member considered a report on proposals to introduce a Local Lettings Policy for the 13 new self-contained bungalows being provided at Waddles Court, Llanelli from the conversion of the former St Paul’s residential home, and funded via a combination of the Welsh Government’s Intermediate Care Fund and from the Council’s Housing Capital fund. The Welsh Government element of the funding was specifically aimed at avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, preventing delayed discharges from hospital and supporting older people, particularly the frail and elderly to maintain their independence.

The Local Lettings Policy was therefore being introduced to ensure that not only were the requirements of the Welsh Government’s grant met, but that the Council maximised the impact of the new development in meeting people’s future needs and aimed to prioritise allocations to the new homes in the following order:

1.     People who were in hospital or in a temporary care home placement and who were unable to return to their home due to a significant increase in their level of disability or care needs.

2.     People who were on the Accessible Housing Register (AHR) and:-

Ø  were unable to enter or leave their current home safely;

Ø  were unable to access essential facilities in the home (kitchen, bathroom),

Ø  there was a significant risk to carers when carrying out manual handling tasks with the disabled family member,

Ø  used a wheelchair permanently or, were awaiting issue of a wheelchair via the Wheelchair Service,

Ø  whose mobility was significantly impaired.

Ø  Were disabled and whose existing home would require an adaptation.

3.     In the unlikely event of not being able to allocate to people who met the above criteria, consideration would be given to a wider range of applicants in line with the general Housing Choice Register Policy for allocating bungalows.

The Head of Public Protection and Housing advised that the policy would be implemented following completion of the consultation process and approval via the Executive Board Member. Thereafter, it would initially operate for a 12 month period, following which an assessment would be undertaken on its impact and whether its aims were being met.

The Head of Public Protection and Housing, in response to a question, advised that should an allocation be required to be made under point 3 above, that would be undertaken in accordance with the Housing Choice Register Policy and be restricted to those aged 55 and over.

RESOLVED, that the Local Lettings Policy for the 13 new bungalows at Waddle’s Court, Llanelli be approved.

RESOLVED that the Decision Record of the meeting held on the 19th June, 2015 be signed as a correct record

RESOLVED that the decision records of the Joint Meetings of the Executive Board Members for Housing and Resources held on the 29th June and 23rd July, 2015 be signed as correct records