The Delegated Decisions committee of Plymouth City Council was scheduled to discuss several key items in a meeting held on 26 September 2025, including the allocation of funds for disabled facilities, improvements to the Mount Batten pontoon, an independent living policy review, and funding for rough sleeping prevention.

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) Allocation

Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, was scheduled to review the 2025/26 Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) allocation and the Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) contribution.

The report pack stated that a total of £3,491,445 was to be allocated to the Capital Programme, funded by the Better Care Fund¹ for mandatory DFGs and assistance offered through the Independent Living Policy in 2025/26. It was noted that Plymouth Community Homes had agreed to contribute up to £5,000 per adaptation in their properties, excluding stairlift installations, with a maximum annual contribution of £400,000 for 2025/26. The report pack also noted that up to a maximum £400,000 during financial year 2025/26 (limited to actual funding received from Plymouth Community Homes) could be added to the capital programme to replenish funding used from the DFG capital programme for the provision of mandatory DFG adaptations in PCH properties.

The report pack also stated that £109,877.85 of unspent funds allocated for adaptations in Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) properties in 24/25 could be removed.

The report pack noted that failure to allocate and deliver DFGs would prevent the provision of essential major adaptations, potentially leading to increased complaints of maladministration, financial penalties, reputational damage, and negative media attention. It was also noted that DFGs significantly enhance the quality of life for recipients, their carers, and families, and that effective use of these grants helps reduce demand on social care services by enabling individuals to live safely and independently in their own homes.

The report pack included an Equality Impact Assessment, which stated that limitations of the approved budget could potentially result in some disabled people waiting for their adaptations. It also stated that a prioritisation system is in place to ensure those most in need receive their adaptation soonest.

A climate impact assessment was also included in the report pack. It stated that DFG works are done to improve the quality of life for clients by delivering major adaptations in peoples homes, and that this will see a range of building works undertaken in peoples homes. It also stated that the council utilises local contractors where possible, and that this works to reduce the travelling required and reduces emissions.

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP) Mount Batten Pontoon

Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, Culture and Communications, was scheduled to discuss the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP) Mount Batten Pontoon project.

The report pack stated that the decision to be taken included:

1. Approving the Business Case
2. Allocating £2,093,698 for the project into the Capital Programme funded by Corporate Borrowing
3. Confirming and allocating £264,000 from Improvements to Corporate Estate Fund to the Capital Programme
4. Confirming and allocating £136,000 from Health and Safety Fund to the Capital Programme
5. Delegating the award of the pontoon works contract to Service Director for Economic Development
6. Delegating the decision of the ownership of the pontoon to the Strategic Director for Growth in consultation with the Mount Batten Board.

The report pack stated that the Mount Batten Pontoon replacement is part of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP) project and seeks to deliver a more accessible pontoon to enable the Mount Batten Water Sports and Activity Centre to provide better access to the activities for those with additional needs and ensuring more and more diverse people can engage with the heritage of the Sound.

The report pack also stated that the pontoon will also deliver a new permanent home for the Mount Batten Water Ferry in a more sustainable location and to continue to operate a vital transport link to the Mount Batten Peninsula and repair a PCC asset in terms of the bridgehead where the pontoon operates from.

The report pack noted that the total pontoon project (including commercial berths to generate a revenue income) is £4.2m, and that the PSNMP budget is £1.7m, FM committed £400k, leaving £2.1m budget pressure to be addressed through corporate borrowing.

The report pack included an Equality Impact Assessment, which stated that the project is an integrated, transformative collaborative programme of work to enable a new relationship between the city and sea, which benefits people and nature.

A climate impact assessment was also included in the report pack. It stated that the project is the refurbishment and restoration of a key access point of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP). The changes are being delivered to enable a new gateway to the PSNMP that will support programmes that will get more and more diverse groups of people to engage with the PSNMP, removing barriers and developing a new relationship with the sea.

Independent Living Policy Review 2025

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, was scheduled to discuss the Independent Living Policy Review 2025.

The report pack stated that the decision to be taken was to approve the Independent Living Assistance Policy Review 2025.

The report pack stated that it is important to review the Independent Living Policy now to ensure continued compliance with statutory obligations and to reflect the evolving policy landscape, including the integration ambitions of the Better Care Fund and the care needs recognised under the Care Act 2014.

The report pack noted that as part of the Policy review, public and professional consultation has been conducted receiving strong and constructive engagement, shaping local policy. Respondents expressed clear support for proposed amendments to the Independent Living Assistance (ILA) Policy, including the introduction of low-interest loans, continued availability of discretionary Moving On Grants, and access to a marketplace for privately funded works.

The report pack included an Equality Impact Assessment, which stated that the Council has a statutory duty to approve mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) for major adaptations, and that this work helps people to live independently in their own homes, thereby helping to contain the potential increase in costs to Social Care Services.

A climate impact assessment was also included in the report pack. It stated that works are limited to single dwellings and hence neutral impact anticipated.

Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPRG) Funding for 2025-2026

Gary Walbridge, Strategic Director Adults, Health and Communities, was scheduled to discuss a variation number 76 of contract PEO 16175 to allow for payment Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPRG) Funding for 2025 -2026.

The report pack stated that the decisions to be taken were:

1. To vary contract PEO 16175 to allow for payment of £1,416,568 RSPRG (Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant) for 2025-2026.
2. To allocate MHCLG RSPRG grant funding of £306, 517 to PCC as set out in the report, to deliver specialist service interventions as an integral part of the system response with the Plymouth Alliance and wider partners.

The report pack stated that MHCLG provides annual funding that is ringfenced and must be used to deliver agreed service interventions to single homeless and those who are rough sleeping, and that Plymouth City Council is part of the Plymouth Alliance and delivery of the services via this grant has previously been approved by the Council.

The report pack noted that the £1,723,085 grant allocation for the financial year 2025-26 is 100% revenue and will be used to fund service interventions in the Plymouth Alliance, which PCC is a part of.

The report pack included an Equality Impact Assessment, which stated that the RSPRG funds services that explicitly work to have positive equality, diversity and social inclusion impacts, and that all services support people experiencing multiple disadvantage.