Agenda item

The Committee to receive an update on the Sheltered Housing Review.

Kim Fuller, tenant, addressed the Committee. She highlighted the needs of vulnerable people and that DWP criteria should be met. Ms Fuller gave the Committee an example of tenant who had asked for her daughter to be moved closer to her. Ms Fuller felt that not all the needs of this tenant had been taken into consideration such as lack of nutrition.  Ms Fuller added that there is a need for a Mental Health Advocate to be present during assessments. Ms Fuller went on to advise the Committee of her own experience of alleged bullying.  Ms Fuller concluded her address by referring to improvements made at Gladstone Road.

Ms Fuller was thanked for her address.

Councillor Stephen Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Mike Kay, Chief Executive, Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH), Shirley Davies, Executive Director, NPH, and Phil Harris, Head of Housing and Wellbeing, NBC, presented the briefing paper on the Sheltered Housing Review highlighting the key points:

Ø  The Sheltered Housing Review is in respect of demand rather than the assessment process, but the assessment process will be looked at as part of a service improvement review

Ø  The use of Community Rooms are also being looked at so that they can be best used.

Ø  The Chief Executive of NPH is aware of the alleged  bullying incident and the matter had been dealt with and the case closed.

Ø  In 2012 Northampton Borough Council undertook a review of its sheltered housing stock which was followed by a further, external review by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). 

Ø  On 5 January 2015 NPH was created by NBC NPH has subsequently taken this work and research further and fed this into a wider “Older Persons? Strategy” project which will produce a more holistic Strategy that meets the current and future needs and aspirations of older people in Northampton. To support this work NPH has engaged a specialist consultant:

Ø  The Sheltered Housing Review is currently work in progress with good progress being made. Mike Kay confirmed that he could present the findings and recommendations of the Review when it was complete. This was estimated to be May 2016.

The Committee made comment, asked questions and heard:

Ø  In response to a query whether NPH is working with Planning Services, particularly regarding large scale planning applications; Mike Kay advised that consultation includes Planning Services, in respect of current and future need etc.  Planned developments will inform the Review.

Ø  The Committee commented that Parsons Mead Community Room is well used.

Ø  In answer to a question regarding the criteria for individuals qualifying for sheltered housing, the Committee heard the traditional approach is that individuals should be of pensionable age: classified as being   55 years of age is in respect of concessionary TV licence of £5. Assessment is on an individual basis and other referrals are accepted such as medical and learning needs.

Ø  Mike Kay confirmed that Northamptonshire County Council would be a key stakeholder in the Older Person’s Strategy.

The Chair thanked all for providing information about the Sheltered Housing Review and asked that the findings be presented to the June 2016 meeting of this Committee.

AGREED:    (1)That the update is noted.

(2)That the findings from the Sheltered Housing Review are presented to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 June 2016.