Responding to the publication of an independent review into the Disabled Facilities Grant, DCN spokesperson for Better Lives, Mayor Kate Allsop said:
“As the housing and planning authorities we are disappointed that this Independent Review to government into Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) did not take the opportunity to confirm that DFGs should be paid directly to districts in district/county areas to ensure that they receive the funding to deliver on their statutory responsibilities in this area.
“Recent additional DFG money identified in the Budget has been paid directly to districts as the housing and planning authorities to ensure that it can be utilised in time, recognising that districts were able to utilise this funding at short notice. This should be replicated for all DFG funding and we will be calling on Government to confirm this in their response to the review.
“The suggestion of health and housing partnership boards risks adding a further layer of complexity and bureaucracy in making adaptions to homes. There are real risks that such funding will be used to fund front end social services, rather than the preventatives services such as home adaptions which reduce the burden on adult social care demand.”
ENDS
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