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NEWS AND POLICY UPDATE:

Winter 2005

Information for the providers and commissioners of housing related services for older and disabled people

HOUSING

  • CHANCELLORS PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT: HOUSING GROWTH
    Half a million new homes and more shared equity schemes were the key headlines. The Government’s response to the Barker Review also focuses on new build and owner occupation. www.odpm.gov.uk

  • SUPPORTING PEOPLE BUDGET CUT
    The allocation for the Supporting People programme 2006/07 has been reduced by £30m. It will be £1.685 billion, down 1.75% on the current settlement of £1.715 billion. This level of allocation has also been set as a minimum for 2007/8.

  • DUKE OF EDINBURGH APPLAUDS HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCIES
    At the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) Symposium marking 20 years on from the publication of the ‘Inquiry into British Housing’, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who chaired the Inquiry, welcomed the contribution made by Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) in addressing the problem of poor private sector housing but called for further action in this area.

    The Inquiry highlighted the fact that the majority of unfit homes were owner occupied and called for the creation of ‘Maintenance Associations’ to help such households. The following year saw the foundation of Care & Repair England and soon afterwards a government grant to co-fund pilot HIAs. The idea of a ‘needs related housing allowance’ for all tenures was also proposed by the Inquiry to help to address the issue of low income owner occupiers unable to afford the cost of maintenance and repair.

    JRFs informative short paper ‘Inquiry into British housing 1984 – 1991: What has happened since?’ includes some very useful information. Tables graphically illustrate the decline in the value of home improvement grants (down from just under £500 million in 1994 to under £250 million in 2003) and the rising tax yield from private housing (up from under £1 billion to £6.5 billion over the same period). www.jrf.org.uk – search ref: 0705. More detailed statistics in new ‘UK Housing Review’ www.cih.org

  • HOUSING HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SCHEME (HHSRS): GUIDANCE PUBLISHED
    ODPM have published their Guidance on various aspects of implementing Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, the HHSRS, including Operating, Enforcement and Regulatory Impact Assessment. For technical reasons two are labelled draft, but are almost certainly in their final form. The new system comes into force in April 06, but there are concerns about the capacity of local authorities to implement HHSRS, given staffing levels in private sector housing. www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1161782

  • CONSULTATION ON FUTURE OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE
    ODPM have issued a consultation paper on the future development of the Supporting People programme. There is also a companion technical consultation paper on the development of a Supporting People Distribution Formula. Deadline 28th Feb: www.spkweb.org.uk

  • NEW REPORT ABOUT PLANNING BETTER HOUSING FOR AN AGEING POPULATION
    HOPDEV, the advisory body set up by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the Department of Health (DH) to advise Government on housing and older people, has published a guide to inform housing strategies and planning policies: ‘Delivering housing for an ageing population’ .

    In the foreword to the report, the Director of the Town and Country Planning Association, Gideon Amos, describes the ageing of the population as ‘the most important single factor in the growth of households’ and calls for the creation of ‘not only sustainable but inclusive communities’. The report is practical and readable with a useful set of Facts and Figures, References and Checklist for Action. Available from: http://hopdev.housingcare.org/ or email request to: Enquiries@e-a-c.demon.co.uk

  • CONSULTATION ON NEW PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT FAILS TO MENTION AGEING POPULATION
    The new PPS3 will set out the national planning policies for housing, which regional planning bodies and local authorities should take into account in developing regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks. Unfortunately the consultation paper does not address the key issue of housing for an ageing population, despite the fact that a third of households are now older people. Response deadline: 27th February Link: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162075

  • HOUSE BUILDING STANDARDS TO BE SET THROUGH VOLUNTARY CODE
    ODPM has issued a consultation paper on the creation of a ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ defining standards in new homes with regard to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Partly in response to criticisms about the over regulation of building standards, the proposed code would be voluntary. Response deadline: 6th March http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162094

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE NEWS

  • SOCIAL SERVICES FINANCE SETTLEMENT – CUTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE’S SERVICES?
    Councils with a social service function will receive a funding increase of at least 2% in 06-07 and 2.7% in 07-08. However, the Local Government Association has said that this is not enough to avoid cuts in services because of the ageing population and rising numbers of disabled people and people with learning difficulties. Details of local government finance settlement: www.local.odpm.gov.uk

  • PARTNERSHIPS FOR OLDER PEOPLE’S PROJECTS
    Nineteen councils are to benefit from the two year £60m Partnership for Older People scheme (POPP), with the first phase to begin by May 2006. Handyperson services are mentioned in seven bids, and descriptions of the successful projects are available on the website. Guidance for the Round 2 POPP application process will be issued in the new year. http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/
    OlderPeoplesServices/OlderPeopleArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4099198&chk=5OV7NB

  • THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS
    Thomas Pocklington Trust has invited proposals for its latest research priorities. Deadline for this Call: 5pm on Friday 13 January 2006. www.pocklington-trust.org.uk

  • DISABLED FACILITIES GRANT REVIEW: REPORT AND MEANS TEST CHANGE
    The ODPM have published Bristol University’s study of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The report provides an independent evaluation of the DFG and makes recommendations for change. One of the improvements immediately adopted was the ending of the DFG means test for families with disabled children. The report estimates that the cost of this change will be £12m and ODPM have said that this cost will be met from the £17.7m increase in the DFG allocation in 2006-7. DFGs for disabled children currently account for 5% of all DFG claims, so the question arises about the small amount of extra funding that will remain to meet current unmet need or to fund further improvements. http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1159223

MONEY

  • CHANCELLORS PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT: HEATING HELP FOR PENSIONERS
    Winter Fuel Payments (£200 for 60yrs+ households, £300 for 80yrs+ households) will continue until 2010. £300m has been allocated to Warm Front grants for installation of central heating for those in receipt of pension credit (PC). Pensioners who are not in receipt of PC and who do not have central heating will be able to claim a grant of £300 towards the cost of system installation (via Warm Front). Energy companies are to offer free insulation to all pensioner credit households and a grant of £125-£175 to non PC recipients. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr05/prebud_pbr05_index.cfm

  • MORTGAGE SALES GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND RSLs PUBLISHED
    The Regulatory Reform (Housing) (England and Wales) Order 2002 created a new framework for local housing authorities to provide financial and other assistance for home repair and improvement. This Mortgage Sales Guidance sets out the procedures that both Registered Social Landlords, and local authorities must follow when providing mortgage finance under these new powers. http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1161631

  • PENSION LEVELS FOR 2006 ANNOUNCED
    In April 06 the basic state pension will increase by the retail price index (2.7%)to £84.25 (£134.75 couples) in April. The Pension Credit guarantee element will increase in line with earnings, going up to £114.05 (£174.05 couples). Campaigners have criticised the growing reliance on means testing and the failure to provide pensioners with a decent non means tested basic pension.

  • SINGLE TELEPHONE CALL TO CLAIM THREE BENEFITS: 0800 99 1234
    DWP have launched a single telephone call system for pensioners claiming Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. If someone calls to claim Pension Credit, they will be helped to claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit at the same time. DWP also announced that the Council Tax Benefit claim form had been reduced from 26 pages to 3.

  • BIG LOTTERY FUND ANNOUNCE NEW ‘REACHING COMMUNITIES’ FUND
    Reaching Communities aims to 'help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need’. It will award grants of more than £10,000 and up to £500,000 (£50,000 max for capital grants) and will fund projects for up to five years. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/programmes/reachingcommunities/index2.htm

    Directory of Social Change have published a helpful overview of the current and planned New Big Lottery Fund Programmes http://www.dsc.org.uk/charityexchange/blf1205.html

NEWS

  • CONSULTATION ON ‘NEW, CRITICAL ROLE FOR LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS’
    There are currently over 360 Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) in England, 88 of which are in areas that currently receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF). Those areas in receipt of NRF are required to have an LSP but for remaining areas LSPs are entirely voluntary. The consultation positions LSPs at the centre of the delivery of effective Local Area Agreements, Deadline: 3rd March 2006; copies of the consultation document ‘Local Strategic Partnerships - Shaping their future’ can be found at www.odpm.gov.uk/lg/consult

  • OFFICE FOR DISABILITY ISSUES (0DI) LAUNCHED
    A new cross-government office designed to secure equal opportunities for disabled people was launched on 1 December. The ODI (formed following recommendations by the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in January), will develop and support a new National Forum for Organisations of Disabled People

  • GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE TO CUT OUT ROGUE BUILDERS
    Trustmark, the government backed scheme to enable consumers to find reliable tradespeople, will launch in January 06. People will be able to use their website to search a list of approved operators and access advice on avoiding rogue traders. www.trustmark.org.uk

  • USEFUL WEBSITES
    Latest statistics: the Health and social Care Information Centre: www.ic.nhs.uk Policy watch – briefings on new bills and white papers: www.politics.co.uk

  • HANDYPERSON SCHEME COMES OUT TOP IN ‘THAT LITTLE BIT OF HELP’ RESEARCH
    The Inquiry group looking into the services which enable older people to live independently has published an interim paper highlighting key findings. Trafford Care & Repair’s ‘Handy Help’ emerged as the most valued of services amongst a group of 13 selected for further investigation. Summary report: www.jrf.org.uk Ref: 0625

    This News and Policy Update is produced by Care & Repair England
    The Renewal Trust Business Centre, 3 Hawksworth Street, Nottingham, NG3 2EG
    Tel/ Fax: 0115 950 6500
    info@careandrepair-england.org.uk
    www.careandrepair-england.org.uk

    Every effort has been made to ensure the information above is correct. However, Care & Repair England cannot accept any responsibility for errors and omissions.

    Care & Repair England is supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
    Care & Repair England is an Industrial and Provident Society with Charitable Status Reg 25121

    Previous Newsletters
    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2005 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2004/05 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Autumn 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Summer 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Spring 2004 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2003/04 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update (Winter 2002/03 edition) can be viewed here.

    • The Care & Repair England News and Policy Update briefing paper (Spring 2003 edition) can be viewed here.