Purpose

To note and support the recommendations and
changes, including increasing the HRA establishment.

Decision

That
Cabinet:
 
1)   
Noted the extensive review undertaken, initial
service improvements made and those proposed to be
implemented.
 
2)   
Supported the installation of digital notice boards,
as a pilot in two communal areas to improve communication to our
tenants and a marketing budget to help promote the new service,
£13,000 to support these items was included in the draft
2024/25 budget.
 
3)   
Supported the implementation of a response service
at a cost of £29,000 as included in the draft 2024/25
budget.
 
4)   
Supported Communal TV Aerial changes through capital
investment of £111,000, generating an on-going revenue saving
of £15,000 which was included within the draft 2024/25
budget.
 
5)   
Supported an increase in the Sheltered Housing
Budget of £290,000 and noted that this would be funded
through service charges to residents. As set out in the draft
2024/25 budget.
 
That Cabinet
Recommend to Full Council:
 
6)   
To increase the establishment as set out in the body
of the report.
 
7)   
To approve new service charge categories with an
increase in these to sheltered tenants, of no more than £0.88
per week as attached at Appendix A. Tenants would be formally
consulted through service of statutory notice.
 
 

Reasons for the decision

·      
To ensure that the South Holland District
Council’s Sheltered Housing assets were made the best use of
and remained safe and secure. In addition, the service offered a
preventative model, working in partnership with Health and other
key services, helping to keep tenants independent for as long as
possible. By working in this way, their needs would be met and by
continued engagement, their views would be taken into account.
These options would also ensure that Sheltered Housing was
attractive to any future tenants, ensuring that it was a
sustainable, modern, fit for purpose model.
·      
In addition to provide greater clarity and
transparency in relation to the Sheltered Housing Service offer and
charges, which highlighted that we have listened and delivered to
the tenants the services they have told us they wanted and
needed.

Alternative options considered

·      
Do nothing: The option to
leave SHDC’s Sheltered Housing service as it currently was
and not upgrade the equipment, i.e., do nothing, had been
considered. Informal Cabinet decided in 2020 that a review was
required of the wider sheltered housing service offer to ensure
that it was fit for purpose and met SHDC’s Corporate aims and
objectives.
·      
The decision to upgrade the equipment was made
following investigation into the usage and need of the tenants.
Lack of investment in the service offer to compliment this
investment over the longer term posed significant risk to tenants
and the sustainability of sheltered housing to attract future
tenants.