What this consultation is about
Our Best Life Derbyshire transformation puts people at the heart of adult social care. We are committed to helping people in Derbyshire lead independent lives, at home and in their local communities for as long as they can.
We are consulting on future options for the delivery of design services for the Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs).
The government provides grants to district and borough councils known as DFGs to fund adaptions from stairlifts and level access showers to more complex adaptations like extensions so eligible children and adults with disabilities can live independently in their own home.
The grants should cover the cost of all of the works, however, we’ve historically supplemented the grants by funding and managing the design and procurement work – using our in-house disability design team.
Like many other councils across the country, we are facing financial pressures outside our control. These include rising demand, higher than expected inflation and a rise in the cost of energy and materials. This means we are having to look at all areas of spending, particularly services we do not legally have to deliver – known as discretionary spending – so we can continue to enable those who need to draw on our support most.
Where in the past we have been able to find funding for work and projects outside our statutory duties, we are now having to look at doing things differently so we are consulting on other ways the Disability Design Team could be structured and funded in line with the wider national approach.
We have 3 proposals:
- option 1 - for us to continue our design and procurement work, but to obtain full funding from the district and borough councils who are the recipients of the grant for all the discretionary services and support that is provided
- option 2 - for us to continue our design and procurement services but only supporting our statutory project work, ending all discretionary work for district and borough councils
- option 3 - for us to end our design and procurement work, with our statutory project work being delivered by external providers
On 25 July 2024 Cabinet approved a public consultation on the proposed 3 options on the future delivery of the design services be considered. For more detailed information on the options proposed, view item 8 on the Cabinet agenda 25 July 2024.