Issue - meetings

To advise members of a countywide project and request supplementary income and expenditure budgets.

This report was considered by the Scrutiny Commission on 8 October. An extract from the minutes of that meeting is attached.

Members were advised of a countywide hoarding project led by the borough council on behalf of the seven district councils and funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant element of the Better Care Fund. It was moved by Councillor Mullaney, seconded by Councillor Bray and

RESOLVED –

(i)            Participation in and hosting of the pilot project be endorsed;

(ii)           A supplementary income and expenditure budget for the value of the external funding of £315,000 be approved;

(iii)          A one-off reduction in the Disabled Facilities Grant budget of £45,000 be approved.

To advise members of a countywide hoarding project.

Councillor Pendlebury declared a personal interest in this item as a mental health worker.

The Scrutiny Commission was informed of a pilot countywide project funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant element of the Better Care Fund aimed at a holistic approach to dealing with cases of hoarding.

Members generally felt this was a valuable piece of work and were happy that the Council was leading on the project.

A member expressed concern that, in the current climate where businesses and individuals were struggling financially, the cost to taxpayers of the project was high yet outcomes commensurate with the expenditure may not be achieved. In response, it was noted that the cost would be met from the Disabled Facilities Grant which was a ringfenced budget and could not be used to support businesses or other general fund functions. Members were reassured that positive outcomes had been seen in other areas and it was anticipated that the return on investment would be achieved by reducing delayed hospital discharged and the associated cost of bed blocking and through reducing the need for multiple clear outs of peoples’ properties.

In response to a question about the extent of the problem, it was noted that in the borough in May 2019 there were 31 cases of which officers were aware. In addition, there were around ten people per week in Leicestershire hospitals unable to be discharged as their property being uninhabitable due to hoarding.

It was suggested that an update be brought to the Scrutiny Commission at an appropriate point.

It was moved by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Crooks and

RESOLVED –

(i)            The report be endorsed and RECOMMENDED to Council;

(ii)           An update be brought to a future meeting.