Issue - meetings

Review of Hard Wired Sheltered Street Schemes

Meeting: 14/01/2008 - Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services Advisory Panel (Item 54)

54 Review of Hard Wired Sheltered Street Schemes PDF 49 KB

This report examines the options surrounding the sustainability of the current hard-wired street schemes managed by the council and seeks approval for the redesignation of the properties to general housing needs.

Decision:

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i) Approve Option 1 - the conversion of the current hard wired street schemes to lifeline telephones.

(ii) Approve the re-designation of the properties listed in paragraph 5 of the report to general housing needs.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To ensure that the properties remain popular and sustainable in the future.

Minutes:

Members considered a report which examined the options for the sustainability of the current hard wired street schemes that the council managed and sought approval to re-designate the properties to general housing needs.

The report related to the following hard-wired schemes:

Scheme	Numbers of Properties
Bell Farm Ave	16
Huntington Rd	4
Jackson Street	21
Lowther Street	17
March Street	9
Middleham Ave	3
Total	70

These Sheltered Housing Schemes had originally been built as general needs flats but had been re-designated for older people following a shortage of sheltered properties in the city. Difficulties were now being encountered with letting these properties. Members were therefore asked to consider the following options for their future management:

Option 1 – Convert from hard-wired to lifeline phones. This would involve disconnecting the hard-wired systems, offering existing customers a lifeline phone and removing the dedicated warden service. When vacancies occurred these would then be offered as sensitive general needs lettings.

Option 2 – Maintain the status quo. This was not recommended, as it would not resolve the current problems around letting these properties.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i) Approve Option 1 - the conversion of the current hard wired street schemes to lifeline telephones.¹

(ii) Approve the re-designation of the properties listed in paragraph 5 of the report to general housing needs.²

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To ensure that the properties remain popular and sustainable in the future.