Cabinet received and considered Minute OSC21/07 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) held on 7 June 2021 regarding a revised Financial Assistance Policy 2021-2025 (Disabled Facilities Grants [DFG]). 

The OSC had considered the proposed revised Financial Assistance Policy 2021-2025 (DDFG that enabled the provision of DFG funding through the Better Care Fund (BCF) and had supported the policy.  DFGs were essential for improving the health and wellbeing of residents who experienced disability and mobility impairments.

In addition, the new Discretionary Disabled Project Grant would allow the Council to maximise the use of the BCF allocation through more flexible use of the funds and to make adaptations to its own estate and those public realm locations for which it was responsible.  Those eligible to apply were detailed within the report and included voluntary / community groups, parish councils, faith groups, and not-for-profit organisations.  Cabinet was pleased to endorse and recommend onto full Council.  

RECOMMENDED: That:

1)    the Financial Assistance Policy 2021-2025 be approved and adopted; and

2)    initially, £200,000 be allocated to the Discretionary Disabled Project Grant from the balance of Disabled Facilities Grant funds held in earmarked reserves.