Decision

The Portfolio Holder for Housing has decided to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant of £90,000 to fund essential adaptations for a severely disabled child.

Analysis

outcome: The exceptional DFG top-up grant of £90,000 was approved, means testing was waived, and the land charge was limited to £30,000.

summary: The decision is to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant of £90,000 to fund essential adaptations for a severely disabled child.

topline: The Portfolio Holder for Housing has decided to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant of £90,000 to fund essential adaptations for a severely disabled child.

reason_contentious: This issue is not contentious as it involves providing financial assistance for essential adaptations for a severely disabled child.

affected_stakeholders: ["severely disabled child", "recipient's family"]

contentiousness_score: 0

political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.

URL: http://modgov.cherwell.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5019

Decision Maker: Portfolio Holder for Housing

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To seek approval to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant to fund essential adaptations to support a severely disabled child (exempt report at appendices by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2).

Content: To seek approval to award an exceptional discretionary top-up Disabled Facilities Grant to fund essential adaptations to support a severely disabled child (exempt report at appendices by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2). Resolved   (1)            That the exceptional DFG top-up grant award of £90,000 be approved.   (2)            That it be agreed to waive the means testing of the DFG top-up grant.   (3)            That it be agreed to limit the land charge to £30,000 for the DFG top-up grant. As part of its statutory duties, the Council provides financial assistance for disabled adaptations. This is in the form of Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), which are capped by statute at £30,000. The Council also offers discretionary DFGs under its Housing Grants and Assistance Policy, capped at a further £30,000.   Approval is sought from the Portfolio Holder to agree an exceptional DFG top-up of £90,000 and to waive any means-testing to allow for rapid and significant improvements to the recipient and their family’s quality of life which are urgently needed. Option 1: Not approve the exceptional DFG top-up grant. This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt report.   Option 2: Approve the DFG top-up grant but require means-testing This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt repo   Option 3: Approve the DFG top-up grant without means testing but require the full amount to be lodged as a local land charge This option is rejected as for the reasons as set out in the exempt repo

Date of Decision: June 20, 2025