Agenda and minutes

1.1

No apologies for absence were received.

2.1

No items were identified where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public and press.

3.1

There were no declarations of interest.

4.1

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 2^nd December, 2021, were approved as a correct record.

5.1

There were no public questions or petitions received from members of the public.

6.1

The Committee received a report and presentation which identified how the Council’s Housing and Social Care Services were committed to helping people to live independently at home and recognising the city’s shortfall in housing for older persons.

6.2

Present for this item were Suzanne Allen, Head of City-Wide Housing Service and Alexis Chappell, Director of Adult Health and Social Care.

6.3

Alexis Chappell introduced the report stating that the current Older Persons Independent Living Strategy was currently being reviewed.  She said that the report gave background information on how Housing and Social Care were working jointly to promote more appropriate housing choices and give support for independent living.

6.4

Suzanne Allen referred to the presentation stating that the city’s population was growing and becoming increasingly diverse.  She said that people were living longer with a range of health conditions, including learning disabilities and autism, and housing was key to supporting independent living.  She briefly outlined what Older Persons Independent Living (OPIL) housing was and the benefits of it.  She said that in Sheffield, there was a limited range of OPIL housing, stating that many of the sheltered housing schemes were provided by social landlords, were expensive and unaffordable to many people and were located in the southwest of the city.  Suzanne Allen said that there were shortfalls many parts of the city and there was high demand for extra care housing.  She referred to three new care schemes in the Parson Cross, Gleadless Valley and Birley areas of the city, highlighting some of the benefits of integrated housing, health and care.  Ms. Allen said that the key challenges were to widen choice and options for all incomes, tenures and areas; address large shortfalls of OPIL housing and also address inequalities faced by the BAME and LGBT+ communities.

6.5

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions as follows:-

6.6

·                One of the key things was to co-create and co-develop the Adult Social Care and Health Care Strategy by using better technology to develop solutions that enable people to live more independently and longer in accommodation of their choice.  Specialised schemes can be expensive so would only be developed in areas that required them.  The Council’s Prevention Strategy has identified the need to improve the range of housing options available and meet its rehousing duties. There should be more affordable options for young people and for those with complex needs. As well as providing housing, the Housing Service and Adult Social Care Services were working jointly to improve the support that was currently available to help people keep their homes and live independently.

·                It was felt that there should be better integration amongst communities with a mix of age ranges and help households where they wanted to stay together or in close proximity to each other.  There was no reason why general needs housing could not be developed to assist extended families to help and support each other.

·                One of the key things was to support older adults  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1

The Policy and Improvement Officer (Emily Standbrook-Shaw) submitted a report setting out the draft work plan for the remainder of the Municipal Year.  Emily Standbrook-Shaw said that, following a request from the February meeting of Full Council, options would be considered as to how the Committee could start to look at how the Council can support its ambition for an Inclusive Economy in the One Year Plan.

7.2

RESOLVED: That the Committee Update and Work Plan be noted.