Decision details

To authorise the Corporate Director to enter into an agreement with Longhurst Group Ltd, a Housing Association, to fund a ‘Bath Out’ project up to £105,120 funded by the Council’s Better Care Fund allocation to adapt accommodation used by older residents.

THAT the Portfolio Holder:
Authorises the Corporate Director to enter into an agreement with Longhurst Group Ltd, a Housing Association, to fund a ‘Bath Out’ project up to £105,120 funded by the Council’s Better Care Fund allocation to adapt accommodation used by older residents.

This project links to the following Gedling Plan priorities:
•Cohesive, diverse and Safe communities
oTo promote strong, resilient communities and reduce hardship and inequality
?Reduce poverty and inequality and provide support for the most vulnerable
•Work with local organisations to improve people’s life chances and reduce levels of poverty
•Healthy lifestyles
oTo Promote the health and wellbeing of our residents
To deliver corporate Pentana service plan action EN2122-2.2 – Work with partners across housing sectors to deliver £150,000 directed at specialist adaptations for accommodation to respond to those with more profound levels of disability.

To instead wait for mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant referrals to be received on a case by case basis. This would be a less efficient way of adapting housing stock in the borough occupied by older residents and could take many years to complete, the aim of this approach is to deliver 15 adaptations by the end of December 2022 thus ensuring the use of this year’s budget is maximised. The proactive approach outlined in this report is more likely to help protect the health of the tenants.