Issue - meetings

The purpose of the attached report by the Head of Corporate Assets, Business & Standards is to seek approval to amend the current Financial Assistance Policy for Private Sector Housing Renewal in Portsmouth to keep the policy in line with customer needs.

RECOMMENDED that the 2014 Financial Assistance Policy is agreed and implemented from 1^st October 2014, as detailed in Appendix 1.

That the 2014 Financial Assistance Policy be agreed and implemented from 1^st October 2014, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CORPORATE ASSETS,
BUSINESS & STANDARDS)

Alan Cufley and Bruce Lomax presented this report which reviewed the success of the policy in place for the provision of financial assistance packages for owner occupiers and landlords.  This was reviewed each year to ensure the best value for money.

4.2(a) lists the grants and loans to be removed and 4.2(b) - 4.5 made changes to the existing grant structure.  Those packages that were not working were being removed and a new deposit loan acting as a short term loan was being put in place.

Councillor Sanders commented that he was delighted with the report and the way forward was felt that it was right to review the effectiveness of the assistance policy which helped those most in need.

Councillor Wemyss as Cabinet Member for Housing felt it was right to review the policies to try to support people to stay in their own homes and felt that there should be flexibility in the future reviews to give consideration to whether the deposit scheme should be a bond rather than a loan.  The officers undertook to review the deposit scheme to see how this worked with the landlords and the possibility of changing this to bonds in the future.

DECISION:

That the 2014 Financial Assistance Policy be agreed and implemented from 1^st October 2014, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.