Members of the Council’s Cabinet, who met on Wednesday evening (10th October), agreed to an additional “one off” allocation for the scheme, which had seen a significant increase in referrals over the past three years.

Mr. Paul Shackley, the Council’s Head of Health and Housing, explained that the Council operates an Aids and Adaptations Scheme for council tenants through Ashfield Homes Limited, and that the authority was also involved with a similar scheme for private sector home owners.

“Both these schemes allow for minor changes to a person’s home if they have a disability or are elderly or inform and need assistance to move around the home and in some instances major adaptations such as extensions,” he said. “The Council has a statutory duty to ensure that the needs of disabled people are met”.

The Aids and Adaptations budget is for specialist work to adapt homes to suit the individual needs of Council tenants who have disabilities or special needs.

The Cabinet heard that over recent years the budget has been increased to cope with demand, but during the last financial year, it was placed under greater pressure due to an increased number of referrals from the Social Services Department of the Council - with an increase from 748 per month during 2004/05 to 1002 jobs per month between April and November 2006.

The increase in the referral numbers can be attributed to a number of reasons including the increase of a “Fast Track” system and the amalgamation of Mansfield and Ashfield Occupational Therapy Units, which has resulted in referrals being dealt with quicker.

In addition, the service provided by AHL has been actively promoted with leaflets, newsletters and Care Co-ordinators and people are generally living longer and becoming more independent within their own home.

Members agreed that in order to ensure all applicants to the scheme are assisted, a “one off” budget allocation of £242,750 be made to the Aids and Adaptations budget to be administered by AHL and that the Council’s budgets are amended accordingly.