This Council is disappointed in the Government decision to limit housing benefit payments to new residents of supported housing from April 2017. This includes the 1550 Sheltered and Extra Care homes and the 143 units of supported accommodation in Trafford. This Council understands that no housing providers will build the much needed extra homes for older people in the borough if this policy is enacted and the ability for this Council to meet its aspirations in the future of allowing older people to live safe and well at home is at risk.

This Council understands that the risks to current and future homes cannot be managed by discretionary housing payments. This Council therefore commits to writing to the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, to argue for him to immediately exempt supported accommodation (including that for older people) from the new housing benefit regulations. This will allow certainty for housing providers to be able to manage current homes and to develop future schemes to benefit the residents of this borough.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council is disappointed in the Government decision to limit housing benefit payments to new residents of supported housing from April 2017. This includes the 1550 Sheltered and Extra Care homes and the 143 units of supported accommodation in Trafford. This Council understands that no housing providers will build the much needed extra homes for older people in the borough if this policy is enacted and the ability for this Council to meet its aspirations in the future of allowing older people to live safe and well at home is at risk.

This Council understands that the risks to current and future homes cannot be managed by discretionary housing payments. This Council therefore commits to writing to the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, to argue for him to immediately exempt supported accommodation (including that for older people) from the new housing benefit regulations. This will allow certainty for housing providers to be able to manage current homes and to develop future schemes to benefit the residents of this borough.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes the Government’s current position to limit housing benefit payments to new residents of supported housing from April 2017 (deferred from April 2016). This includes the 1550 Sheltered and Extra Care homes and the 143 units of supported accommodation in Trafford. This council understands the need to ensure that both those who live in Supported Accommodation and those that provide this type of accommodation receive appropriate protections. if this policy is enacted  to assist  this council to meet its aspirations in the future of allowing older people to live safe and well at home.

The Government has set up a Supported Accommodation research project and subsequent policy review to ensure that support is concentrated on the most vulnerable and appropriate groups are protected. This council therefore commits to writing to the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, to argue that an adequate level of protection should be provided for supported accommodation (including that for older people) from the new housing benefit regulations. This will allow certainty for housing providers to be able to manage current homes and to develop future schemes to benefit the residents of this borough.”

Following a debate on the matter and with the proviso that the mover of the Motion, Councillor Duffield, has sight of the letter before it is sent to the Chancellor of Exchequer, the amendment was agreed with the unanimous consent of the Council. The substantive Motion was consequently declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes the Government’s current position to limit housing benefit payments to new residents of supported housing from April 2017 (deferred from April 2016). This includes the 1550 Sheltered and Extra Care homes and the 143 units of supported accommodation in Trafford. This council understands the need to ensure that both those who live in Supported Accommodation and those that provide this type of accommodation receive appropriate protections. if this policy is enacted  to assist  this council to meet its aspirations in the future of allowing older people to live safe and well at home.

The Government has set up a Supported Accommodation research project and subsequent policy review to ensure that support is concentrated on the most vulnerable and appropriate groups are protected. This council therefore commits to writing to the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, to argue that an adequate level of protection should be provided for supported accommodation (including that for older people) from the new housing benefit regulations. This will allow certainty for housing providers to be able to manage current homes and to develop future schemes to benefit the residents of this borough.