Issue - meetings

To consider the Older People’s Housing Strategy 2010-2020 prior to it being presented to the Cabinet in March 2011.

The draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2010-2020 can be viewed at:

http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=128&MId=4544&Ver=4

Hard copies have been sent to Committee Members only but are available on request.

The Committee received Haringey’s Older People’s Housing Strategy 2011-2021, introduced by Rosie Green (Housing Strategy and Partnerships Manager) who highlighted that there was a lack of specialist housing in the Borough and over-provision of sheltered housing compared to other boroughs.  Ms Green gave thanks to Haringey’s Forum for Older People for its help during consultation.

The Committee asked for more information on the Housing Minister’s commitment of £180m as part of the Disabled Facilities Grant programme for councils to help fund home adaptations to help those with disabilities to live comfortably and independently in their own home (Action No. 191).

The following was noted in response to questions and concerns raised by Committee Members

• If the Council was to develop more Older People housing it would have to work closely with housing associations.
• It was reported that two extra care schemes would be developed in the west of the borough and, in the east of the borough, residential care blocks would be decommissioned.  Extra care facilities will be developed in areas including Hornsey, Highgate and Seven Sisters High Road.
• As part of a Supporting People review the use of existing sheltered housing stock will be considered and the housing strategy and adults services teams will have an input.
• Despite a waiting list for sheltered housing the Council had void properties because some areas were not popular, for example many people would prefer to live in the west of the borough or people were not willing to live in the void properties. 

It was noted that it was difficult for the Council to reduce under-occupancy of properties and the Committee recommended that the strategy include additional information about what further could be done to manage under-occupancy.

RESOLVED to note the report and recommend that more information about under-occupancy work be included in the Older People’s Strategy.