Agenda item - Disabled Facilities Grant ( DFG) Update Report

9.1       Sarah Potter provided an update on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

9.2       In response to a question from Cllr Norman, Ms Potter confirmed to that Adult Social Care (ASC) did fund minor adaptations, with DFG funding works over £1,000. Denise D’Souza added that ASC had topped up the budget for DFG in previous years, through the aSC discretionary funding for individual cases on the grounds of hardship, so the department was potentially involved in funding works both below and above £1,000

9.3       Dr Beesley suggested that it could be useful to have a cost analysis of adaptation delays/intervention benefits: for example, more modelling information on falls including the cost of home visits. Even though there is national-level information on this, Dr Beesley stressed the value of local data.

9.4       Denise D’Souza noted that it was important to start getting people thinking about their future housing needs rather than waiting until they actually require adaptations. People also need to think about self-funding adaptations as an option, given the limited amount of public funding available. Sarah Potter confirmed that the DFG is means-tested for adults.

9.5       Councillor Barford expressed concern about delays to adaptations and stressed the importance of understanding their impact. She was pleased that the Better Care Fund covered fund overspends, but would like to see more quantification of the benefits of this work and was unhappy about the deferral of grants to the following financial year. Sarah Potter agreed with her concern about deferred grants; the intention is to avoid them this year. 

9.6       The Chair thanked Sarah Potter for sharing a positive story about using funds to such good effect.

9.7       RESOLVED: (i) The Board noted the contribution to Better Care work streams around prevention and Keeping People Well.

(ii) The Board noted the value for money case and approved an approach to budget setting which takes account of the government allocation via the DFG announced in February, and projected spend.