Decision details

The proposal is to provide funding to district authorities in Lancashire, to enable them to take action that will reduce the severe negative health consequences that cold and damp homes have on the most vulnerable Lancashire residents.  These actions are expected to reduce demands on the Lancashire health and care system over the winter months, including the avoidance of emergency hospital admissions and winter deaths. 

This is a deemed to be a Key Decision and the provisions of Standing Order 25 has been complied with.

County Councillor Azhar Ali, the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing approved:

(i)  £30,000 which is made available as a grant to each of the 12 Lancashire district local authorities, to enable them to deliver high impact affordable warmth interventions, over the coming winter 2013- 2014.  This would be offered on a one off basis with no commitment to recurring funding.

(ii)  A further countywide fund of £120,000 is made available, for spend in 2013/14, to district councils for proposals that are assessed as offering the most effective and timely approaches to support individuals in the most need.

(iii)  The total of £480,000 allocation which is funded by the 2013/14 public health grant.

(iv)  That these affordable warmth interventions are targeted at those most vulnerable to the harm that cold homes can have on health.

(v)  The specific format, criteria for distribution, assessment, and content of the agreement, with each district be delegated to the Executive Director for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Health Protection and Policy, and the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing as appropriate, with support from the finance team.

Any comments made by the Executive Scrutiny Committee were considered by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.