Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Housing Revenue Account Major Adaptations 2025/26 Release No 4
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Democratic Services Location: Phase II Ext: 0692 DDI: 01895 250692 CMD No: 1569 To: COUNCILLOR EDDIE LAVERY CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE & TRANSFORMATION COUNCILLOR JONATHAN BIANCO CABINET MEMBER FOR CORPORATE SERVICES & PROPERTY c.c. All Members of th e Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee c.c. Dan Kennedy – Corporate Director for Residents Services c.c. Alan Galloway – Resident Services Directorate Date: 27 November 2025 Non-Key Decision request Form D CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT NOVEMBER 2025 DEPARTMENT: HOUSING GRANTS & ADAPTATIONS SERVICE AREA/ PROGRAMME: RESIDENTS SERVICES RELEASE NO: 4 Dear Cabinet Members, Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such, the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply. You should take a decision on or after Friday 05 December 2025 in order to meet Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your decision on the duplicate memo supplied and return it to me when you have made your decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published. Ryan Dell Democratic Services Title of Report: Capital Release Report November 2025. Department: Housing Grants & Adaptations. Service Area/ Programme: Residents Services. Release No: 4 Decision made: Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report) Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report) Signed ……………………………………………………… Date…………………….. Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation / Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property Cabinet Member Report – 27 November 2025 Page 1 Part I – Public CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT NOVEMBER 2025 DEPARTMENT: HOUSING GRANTS & ADAPTATIONS SERVICE AREA/ PROGRAMME: RESIDENTS SERVICES RELEASE NO: 4 Cabinet Member & Portfolio Councillor Eddie Lavery , Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property Responsible Officer Daniel Kennedy, Residents Services Report Author & Directorate Alan Galloway, Residents Services Papers with report Appendix A – Capital release request for approval HEADLINES Summary To seek Cabinet Member approval for the release of capital funds. Putting our Residents First Delivering on the Council Strategy 2022-2026 This report supports our ambition for residents/ the Council of: Stay living independently for as long as they are able This report supports our commitments to residents of: Thriving, Healthy Households Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £ 770,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Major Adaptations to Property 2025/26 budget for adaptations to Council-owned properties for disabled tenants. The works will commence upon release of the funds as and when needed. Relevant Select Committee Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee. Relevant Ward All wards RECOMMENDATION That the Cabinet Member for Financ e & Transformation and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property agree to the following capital release requests of £770,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Major Adaptations to Property 2025/26 programme budget (Appendix A). Cabinet Member Report – 27 November 2025 Page 2 Part I – Public Reasons for recommendation The requested grant funding represents a quarter of the 2025/26 annual budget, amounting to £770,000. This sum is intended to cover major adaptation works for tenants in C ouncil-owned properties. The budget includes team fees of 17% and a 10% contingency. This funding release will enable the team to manage service delivery effectively and ensure they meet the required timescales. Alternative options considered An alternative approach would be to request capital release for each property after receiving quotes for multiple workstreams. However, this method was previously used and found to delay urgent or reactive works due to waiting for funding approval. The goal is to implement major adaptations swiftly to minimise risks to residents and help them maintain independence in their homes. Select Committee comments None at this stage. SUPPORTING INFORMATION The Council commissions major adaptations to its properties to help disabled tenants adapt and improve their homes, enabling them to live independently. An Occupational Therapist assesses each resident and recommends major adaptations based on their needs. A grant surveyor then visits the property to determine if the recommendations are reasonable and practical. Common adaptations include level access showers and stairlifts. These adaptations significantly enhance the well -being of vulnerable residents by reducing the risk of hospitalisation and lowering health service and social care costs from falls and other accidents. This aligns with the policy of prevention and support, allowing individuals to live safely in their homes rather than moving to long-term residential care. In 2023/24, 639 grant applications were submitted (across all tenures, including Co uncil-owned properties). In 2023/24, 383 grants were approved and 302 completed. Of these, 36 grants were for disabled residents aged 17 or younger, 137 for those aged 18 to 65, and 129 for those aged 66 and over. Each case may involve multiple elements, such as a ramp, stairlift, and level access shower. Officers are requesting grant funding of £ 770,000, which represents a quarter of the 2025/26 annual budget. This funding will cover major adaptation works for tenants in C ouncil-owned properties. The budget includes team fees of 17% and a 10% contingency, enabling the team to manage service delivery effectively and ensure they meet the required timescales. The works will be completed by framework contractors who have gone through the procurement process, unless the works are specialist, in which case quotes will be requested in line with procurement policy. Cabinet Member Report – 27 November 2025 Page 3 Part I – Public The cost plan below provides the breakdown of the capital release requested: Description Amount (£) Major Adaptations Works 606,299 Internal Fees 103,071 Contingency 60,630 Total £770,000 Financial Implications HRA Major Adaptations Budget 2025 -26 £ 3,229k, Previously Released £ 1,788k, Capital Release Requested £770k – Appendix A The 2025/26 capital programme as approved by Cabinet and Council in February 2025 included a budget of £3,080k for the HRA Major Adaptations. In July 2025 Cabinet approved £149k of rephased HRA Major Adaptations budget from 2024/25 into 2025/26, giving a total revised budget of £3,229k for 2025/26. The full £149k rephased budget has been previously released in 2024/25. This report is requesting capital release of £770k for adaptations at various Council -owned properties for elderly and disabled tenants. This release includes the cost of works based on the National Housing Federation Schedule of Rates (NATFED Version 7), a project contingency of 10% and internal project management fees at 17% of the programme cost. The remaining £ 671k of the HRA Major Adaptations 2025/26 budget is subject to the capital release process. RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION The benefit or impact upon residents, service users and communities The works will address the needs of vulnerable residents by adapting and improving their homes, enabling them to maintain as much independence as possible. Consultation carried out or required None required. CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS Corporate Finance Corporate Finance have reviewed the report and concur with the financial implications set out above, noting the recommendation for capital release to fund adaptation work from the approved 2025-26 HRA capital budget for Major Adaptations to Property. Legal Legal Services confirm that the Council is responsible for carrying out this function pursuant to sections 8-10 of the Housing Act 1985 and section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. Thus, there are no legal impediments to the capital release being authorised, although Cabinet Member Report – 27 November 2025 Page 4 Part I – Public any contract that the Council enters into must comply with the Council's Procurement Standing Orders. Infrastructure/ Asset Management Asset management are the authors of the report. Capital Release Protocol The release of all capital funds, and certain revenue funds, held by the Council is to be made by a formal democratic decision. No expenditure can be placed or committed by officers until this formal approval is given by Democratic Services. Release of funds must be for identified projects only and strictly not for the general release of funds for projects to be identified at a later date. No block releases of capital or funding will be allowed, except if authorised by the Leader of the Council in advance t o Corporate Finance. The release of funds will only be made if previous Council, Cabinet or Cabinet Member agreement has been given to the project and only if there is an approved budget. BACKGROUND PAPERS NIL. APPENDICES Appendix A – Housing Revenue Account Major Adaptations to Property 2025/26 Release No. 4 Cabinet Member Report – 27 November 2025 Page 5 Part I – Public APPENDIX A Housing Revenue Account Major Adaptations to Property 2025/26 Release No. 4 Location Project / Expenditure Title Information Funds Release Sought Approve Hold More Information Required Multiple Major Adaptations Major adaptation works to Council- owned dwellings Major Adaptation Works: £606,299 Team Fees (17% of Works): £103,071 Contingency (10% of Works): £60,630 Total seeking release £770,000 Previously released £1,788,214 Budget £3,229,154 Remaining budget £670,940
View Decision / Minutes Text
Executive Decision Notice – 05 December 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE
PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by
Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon:
Title of decision CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT NOVEMBER 2025
DEPARTMENT: HOUSING GRANTS & ADAPTATIONS
SERVICE AREA/ PROGRAMME: RESIDENTS SERVICES
RELEASE NO: 4
Reference No. 1569
Date of decision Friday 05 December 2025
Call-in expiry date Friday 12 December 2025
Relevant Select
Committee
Corporate Resources & Infrastructure Select Committee
Relevant Wards All
Decision made
Cabinet Members making
the decision
Councillor Eddie Lavery, Ca binet Member for F inance &
Transformation
Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Corporate
Services & Property
Decision That the Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation
and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services &
Property agree d to the following capital release
requests of £770,000 from the Housing Revenue
Account Major Adaptations to Property 2025/26
programme budget (Appendix A of the associated
report).
Reason for decision The requested grant funding represents a quarter of the
2025/26 annual budget, amounting to £770,000. This sum
is intended to cover major adaptation works for tenants in
Council-owned properties. The budget includes team fees
of 17% and a 10% contingency. This funding release will
enable the team to manage service delivery effectively and
ensure they meet the required timescales.
Alternative options
considered and rejected
An alternative approach would be to request capital release
for each property after receiving quotes for multiple
workstreams. However, this method was previously used
and found to delay urgent or reactive works due to waiting
for funding approval. The goal is to implement major
adaptations swiftly to minimise risks to residents and help
them maintain independence in their homes.
Classification Part I – Public
Link to associated report Here
Executive Decision Notice – 05 December 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Relevant Officer contact
& Directorate
Alan Galloway – Residents Services Directorate
Any interest declared by
the Cabinet Member(s) /
dispensation granted
N/A
Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in
[Internal Use only]
When can this
decision be
implemented by
officers?
Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only
from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:
5pm on Friday 12 December 2025
However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a
valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise
the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold.
Councillor scrutiny
call-in of this
decision
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice
may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the
expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above.
Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their
devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought
from Democratic Services if required:
Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure)
Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The
Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive
decision, including links to the reports where applicable.
If you would like more information on this decision, please contact
Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email:
democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including
Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group
Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the
Council’s website.
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