Conservative council in warning to Government on benefit changes

North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les has expressed “deep concerns” over the impact of benefit reforms on its shift to extra care housing for older people.

The county’s interevention adds to Labour pressure on the Government to change its benefit reforms so they do not impact on so-called supported housing for older and vulnerable people.

It has argued the proposed cap on housing benefit does not recognise the higher costs associated with supported housing and could put 33,000 people in Yorkshire at risk of losing their home.

The county council has been developing a series of extra care homes where older people have their own accommodation but access to communal services and care when they need it.

Coun Les said: “The impact will mean that we are not able to progress new schemes and it will raise serious questions about the viability of existing schemes as and when current residents move or die.

“Our approach has been both to keep older and disabled people – including those with early stages of dementia - living independently through well-designed schemes which offer social and private rental and owner occupier choices.

“We are also expanding the other types of housing choices which help younger adults who have long term mental health issues, learning and physical disabilities.

“We view this approach as being essential to the prevention of ill-health and isolation, as well as making economic sense for the taxpayer”.

The county has already developed 19 extra care schemes and is committed to building one in every major North Yorkshire town.

The Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association recently revealed it had delayed work on a £7.7 million extra care facility in Starbeck because of the proposed housing benefit changes.

John Healey, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Housing, said: “Conservative-led councils are now adding their voices to growing calls for George Osborne to rethink his crude cut to housing benefit, which will lead to the loss of thousands of supported homes for the frail elderly, homeless, veterans and people with disabilities.

“The Chancellor’s cuts are already causing planned building of new supported homes to be stopped or scrapped. Without this specialist housing, many of the most vulnerable people in our society will have nowhere left to turn.”