Agenda item

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report to provide the Board with an overview of the current delivery of adaptations in public and private sector housing.  To consider the contents of the report to assist in the determination of Terms of Reference for a future Inquiry into adaptations in Leeds.

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Housing submitted a detailed report  containing a variety of information that provides a useful overview of how adaptations are currently delivered across Leeds, some comparative information in terms of average completion times and average costs for private sector dwellings and VFM considerations and opportunities for future development.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  A table on the Capital Expenditure on Major Adaptations (Public & Private Sectors).

·  A table on the Numbers of Schemes completed in the private sector (DFGs) 2003/04 to 2007/08.

·  A table on All Agency Performance – Average Time Taken from First Contact to Completion of Adaptations (July 2008).

·  A table on Adaptations Agency Performance – Average Time Taken from Receipt in Agency to Completion.

·  A table on Social Care Performance – Average Time Taken from First Contact to Request for Adaptation.

·  A table on the Average Days to Complete Major Adaptations (High, Medium and Low Risk cases) in the Private Sector – from receipt into Adaptations Agency.

·  A table on the Average Time (Days) to Complete Major Adaptations from First Contact with the Authority to Completion.

·  Customer Satisfaction Levels for 2007/08.

·  A table on the Unit Cost of Delivering Major Adaptations 2006/07 (Private Sector).

The Chair welcomed the following Officers to the meeting who responded to Members’ questions and comments:-

·  Helen Freeman - Chief Officer (Health and Environmental Action Service)

·  Andy Beattie – Head of Service (Pollution Control and Housing)

·  Simeon Perry – Housing Policy and Monitoring Manager

·  Mandy Askham – Head of Regeneration & Adaptations (Leeds ALMO)

·  Nesreen Lowson – Head of Property Investment (Leeds ALMO)

·  Liz Ward – Disability Services Manager (Adult Social Services).

In brief, specific reference was made on the following issues:-

·  clarification of the average days adaptations are carried out in and whether this starts at the point of request or at the point of assessment.

·  concern was expressed that a couple of years ago the department had a problem due to the lack of qualified Occupational Therapists.

·  concern was expressed that the data in the report was mainly for those properties in the public sector yet adaptations are needed in the public sector who generally pay for their own adaptations. 

·  concern was expressed that many in the private sector have no knowledge of how the grant system works and would certainly benefit from the services of the Adult Social Care Department.

·  clarification that the department gets value for the money spent on the cost of adaptation work to be completed and the timescale for payment to contractors/builders.

·  clarification on whether consideration has been given to bulk buying which has proven to cut costs down considerably.

·  clarification that the department have addressed the improvements needed in how the Council manage situations where a family have  complex needs (such as those needs addressed in recent Ombudsman cases). 

·  clarification on what happens to the adaptations the department makes both in the public and private sector when they are no longer needed or are they recycled.

·  clarification of the services provided by the department for those with low level need of help who may not need to go through a full assessment.

·  clarification of the high, medium and low risk categories on assessing the need for adaptations and the ability to pay.  Members requested that the Board be provided with the figures for each category, including the figures for all the ALMOs.

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED -  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(Note:  Councillor T Murray joined the meeting at 11.00 a.m. during consideration of the above item).