Meeting documents

Members are reminded of the need to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest to declare in any of the items on this agenda.  If so, the nature of the interest must be declared at the start of the meeting, or as soon as the interest becomes apparent.  The attached form must also be completed and passed to the officer administering the meeting.

No declarations of interest were received.

To elect a Chairman of the committee

Councillor Chatt was appointed as Chairman.

Public questions of which due notice has been given and which are relevant to the business of the committee.

There were no public questions.

To consider a report by the White Rose Home Improvement Agency Manager (Reference 14/314 attached)

The committee considered a report by the White Rose Home Improvement Agency Manager (Reference 14/314).  The WRHIA Manager summarised the main areas of work the HIA carries out including the delivery of major adaptations funded through the Council’s DFG budgets, well-being services, which includes a home visit to assess all areas of home safety and handyperson services which include minor adaptions for NYCC and Health and a small repairs service.  The WRHIA Manager highlighted some key areas of success contained within the report which reviewed the work undertaken by the Home Improvement Agency during 2013/14:

• Delivery of DFG's - the HIA cleared the waiting list from RDC. This was within budget, due to new efficient ways of working and the Introduction of the DFG framework for showers and ramps, which reduced the average costs of work by approximately £1k and saved at least 4 weeks in the time taken to administer the DFG.

 •Efficient ways of working - introduction of iPads and a web based system means the time taken to complete the majority of framework jobs is now less than 16 weeks, from receipt of the recommendation to completion of works. 

• The HIA continues to deliver all DFGS within budget.

• Due to the successful bid submitted to Supporting People in 2013, the HIA has been able to roll out the well-being service and handyperson service across both areas.  3 well-being officers and 3 handypersons are now delivering these services across both councils.

• The new efficient ways of working has reduced the administration of the service; this has allowed the equivalent funding to be put towards the delivery of the well-being service.

Agreement was given for the RDC Housing Services Manager, Ms Robertshaw to act on behalf of Councillor Cowling in her absence.  The WRHIA Manager confirmed the revenue and capital budgets for 2014/15 and established the budgets for 2015/16:

• Upon the establishment of the partnership RDC Agreed to pay £82,316 towards the running costs of the HIA, which represented approximately 1/3 of the estimated costs at that time. 

• There is an anticipated increase in the running costs of the HIA for 15/16 and RDC have therefore agreed to an increase in their contribution to bring it to £85,667.

• Scarborough Borough Council has established a DFG budget of £685,000 for the 2015/16 financial year.

• Ryedale District Council confirmed an equivalent budget, this will be based on the previously set base budget (£325,000) plus any carry forward.

• Going forward the aim is to bring the Councils both in line with the partnership agreement which documents a split of 66.7/33.33%. At the current time RDC funding falls slightly short of this figure based on the proposed budget. Once the funding split hits this ratio any surplus funds will be split on the same ration to each council.

The RDC Housing Services Manager was happy with the increase and the budget.  Joint working and the partnership was discussed:

• The partnership is now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.