The Head of Housing and Property has submitted a report which presents the Review of Older Persons Accommodation in Oxford (Appendix 1) and requests that the City Executive Board note the contents of the review and approve the recommendations within it.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Note the contents of the Review of Older Persons Accommodation in Oxford, attached as Appendix 1 to this report; and

2.    Approve the recommendations as set out in section 13 of the review document (Appendix 1).

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report which presented the Review of Older Persons Accommodation in Oxford.

The Executive Board Member, Housing presented the report and thanked the Strategy and Service Development Manager for her excellent work and contribution to this issue.  

The Board noted the following points:

·         the need for the City Council to proactively work in partnership with Registered Providers, the County Council and Clinical Commissioning Group to identify the need for extra care, specialist and general needs accommodation that is suitable for older people in the future 

·         the refocussing of accommodation provision towards older people, 75 years of age and older, or those  persons who are younger but with significant health needs

·         the importance of learning from the previous de-designation exercises to ensure careful and planned consultation with residents

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Note the contents of the Review of Older Persons Accommodation in Oxford, attached as Appendix 1 to this report; and

2.    Approve the recommendations as set out in section 13 of the review document (Appendix 1).

Cllr Price left the meeting during discussion of this item.  Cllr Turner took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

The Head of Housing Strategy and Needs provided a presentation on the review of OP housing, which made thirteen recommendations.  The Panel heard that a report would be presented to the City Executive Board (CEB) in March but that a draft report would be available and could be circulated to members soon. 

The Panel made the following comments:

• variations in life expectancy in the city should be factored in to age growth projections;
• the Tenant Scrutiny Panel should be updated and engaged with;
• the Age UK Home Share scheme, once approved, should be promoted in the Older Persons’ Guide and on the Council’s website.

The Panel supported the approach being taken and agreed not to pre-scrutinise the CEB report at the March Panel meeting.

Cllr Hollick, Chair of the Housing Panel presented the report on the Older Person’s Housing Review. The Housing Panel supported the review to free up older person’s housing stock for others. They had 6 recommendations for the Board Member to consider in the future.

The Head of Housing and Property explained that in general terms, the Board Member and he agreed the recommendations but give that the scrutiny was very recent they needed time to consider the detail and the cost implications. He welcomed the Housing Panel continuing to review the work.

Contact Officer: Allison Dalton

Tel: 01865 252801

Email: adalton@oxford.gov.uk     

The Housing Panel considered a briefing on the Older Persons Housing Review at its public meeting on 10 December 2015.  The Panel would like to thank Allison Dalton for supporting this item.

The Panel recognised that surveying older residents to understand their housing requirements should be done with a high degree of sensitivity.  Face to face surveys would therefore be more preferable than online or written surveys.

The Panel supports the idea of involving Oxford Brookes University in conducting the face to face surveys.  Tenant volunteers should also be utilised as they can provide a valuable and familiar link to older tenants.

The Housing Panel came to the view that City Council should be seeking to maximise the possible future benefits of conducting a review into housing for older people by expanding the scope of the project to include older people living in privately-owned or rented accommodation. 

The Panel commented that the timescale for the project seemed short, even with the existing scope.  The Panel is in favour or a longer and deeper review and feel that appropriate resources should be allocated to delivering this.

The Panel recognised that many older residents will not want to move in any circumstances.  While seeking to survey as many older residents as possible, the panel felt that there is potentially a lot of value in understanding the requirements of those who are approaching older age.  This can better inform longer term planning.

The Panel also commented that where single older tenants are under-occupying and would consider moving, there is a lack of suitable accommodation available for them to move in to.  The panel noted that the new units being developed at Barton are predominantly 2 and 3 bedroom accommodation.  

The Panel agreed that elected members should have the opportunity to be involved in overseeing this project and recommend the establishment of a member steering group.

The Panel agreed to monitor progress after 3 months and to consider the findings of the review.