Agenda item - Sheltered Housing

(copy attached).

40.1      The Panel considered a report that set out recommendations to better define the aims and purposes of the sheltered housing service following a review conducted in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Housing in 2013. The recommendations also proposed a name change to ‘Seniors Housing- Independent and Community Living’

40.2      Charles Penrose expressed his view that Senior Housing should be exclusively for older people as the environment and facilities were not suitable for younger people.

40.3      Carl Boardman commended the report that he found to be very thorough. Carl asked for more information on the proposal to convert studio properties to 1 bedroom premises.

40.4      The Older Persons Housing Manager clarified that when most of the premises concerned had been built in the 1970’s and 1980’s there had been a different attitude toward what was acceptable for older people. The feedback from residents had indicated a very clear preference for 1 bedroom properties over studio premises. In practice, there was a far lower take up and demand for studio flats particularly amongst female residents and that often led to a gender imbalance in the population of senior housing. The Head of Tenancy Services added that the shift in policy could also been seen in terms of other issues such as mutual exchange and the quality of the housing stock.

40.5      Carl Boardman noted his concern regarding the placement of younger vulnerable tenants as there appeared an inadequate provision of housing to cater for their needs.

40.6      The Head of Tenancy Services agreed that individual need was a very complex topic and each person needed to be catered for in different ways. Housing Services were currently identifying and commissioning work into how the problem could be addressed.

40.7      RESOLVED- That the report be noted.