northlincs.gov.uk

35 (35) ASSETS OF COMMUNITY VALUE UPDATE – The Director of Places submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the progression of the Community Right to Bid process in North Lincolnshire.

The Community Right to Bid initiative allowed local community groups or town and parish councils to nominate buildings or land for listing as Assets of Community Value under the Community Right to Bid initiative.

For a local group to successfully nominate an asset it would have to show that:

– it was based within the local authority area (or a neighbouring authority); and
– it was a group that was qualified to make a nomination.

Listed assets must either improve, or had recently improved, the community’s social wellbeing or social interest.  They must also be likely of doing so in the future.

The Nominations Register set out the progress made for each nomination from the date it was received through to the listing review, as applicable.  The Nominations Register was appended to the report.

Resolved – That the latest information held within the Nominations Register be noted.

36 (36) REVIEW OF HOME ASSISTANCE POLICY – The Director of Places submitted a report outlining the proposed options for review of the Home Assistance Policy.

The Policy outlined the assistance available from the council to help homeowners maintain their homes or provide disabled adaption’s. The policy had two elements. Firstly, the mandatory disabled facilities assistance (DFGs) and secondly, the discretionary assistance. The policy was last reviewed in 2014 and needed to be reviewed again in light of funding changes.

From 2015, the mandatory funding for DFGs was added to the Better Care Fund. The fund specifically looked at ensuring better services for the frail and frail elderly to safely maintain them at home.

The policy aimed to support the over arching agenda of self-help/personalisation and promote independence. The policy also recognised and addressed that capital resources were not endless and as such it was intended to prioritise the council’s investments to ensure that the most vulnerable residents were assisted in raising their housing standards and improving their health outcomes.

A consultation on the new policy was to be carried out via small consultation groups/key service users using structured questions to obtain their views around the current service and the proposed policy direction.

Resolved – (a) That option one, as set out in the report, be approved, and (b) that the results of the consultation and the recommended changes to the policy be submitted to the Cabinet Member at a later date.

37 (37) HOUSING ADVICE TEAM ANNUAL REPORT 2015 – The Director of Places submitted a report which provided an update on the work of the Housing Advice Team during 2015.

Full details of the areas covered by the HAT during 2015 were set out in the report.

Resolved – That the update relating to the work carried out by the Housing Advice Team during 2015 be noted.

38 (38) SINGLE HOMELESSNESS FUND – The Director of Places submitted a report which sort approval of the creation of a fixed term post of an Assertive Outreach Worker funded by the grant secured from the government’s Single Homelessness Fund and existing earmarked reserves allocated to homeless prevention.

The council along with Hull, East Riding and North East Lincolnshire made a successful Humber wide bid to the Government’s Single Homelessness pot. The grant money was for engagement with single homeless and hard to house to try to break the cycle that resulted in long term rough sleeping.

The council employed an Assertive Outreach Worker provided by The Forge. The council’s proposal was to bring the post in house which would allow the council to extend the funding for longer.

Resolved – That the creation of a fixed term contract for an Assertive Outreach Worker within the Housing Advice Team as set out in the report and the accompanying appendices, be approved.

39 (39) NORMANBY HALL COUNTRY PARK ADMISSION CHARGES 2016-17 – The Director of Places submitted a report which sort approval of the admission charges for Normanby Hall Country Park for the 2016-17 season.

The report gave details of investment and improvements since 2011, examples of planned events and activities and issues that were taken into account when making recommendations about the prices for the 2016-17 season.

Resolved – (a) That option one, as set out in the report, be approved, and (b) that the ‘early bird’ promotion for the annual pass which offers a £1.00 reduction on annual passes purchased before 30 April 2016 be approved.

The corresponding report of the following item (Minutes 40 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

40 (40) PROPERTY TRANSACTION SCHEDULE – The Director of Places submitted a report for consideration, and where necessary, approval of a schedule containing the terms of all recently negotiated property transactions.

The schedule covered both operational and commercial property.

Resolved – That the schedule appended to the report be approved.