Change needed at sheltered plus schemes say councillors

Change is desperately needed at Canterbury City Council’s Sheltered Plus housing schemes to save it and its tenants money and boost the quality of people’s homes. 

That the is the conclusion of councillors from all political parties who took part in the Older Persons’ Accommodation Working Group after carefully examining the evidence. 

Its report will be discussed by the Overview Committee at its meeting on 22 May. 

The working group’s report says: “Sheltered Plus was put in place in 2018 with a large financial subsidy from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and a guarantee that it would remain unaltered for two years. 

“The council has honoured that commitment and more. Six years have passed and the environment in which the council’s housing operates has changed dramatically and the status quo is not financially sustainable.” 

The HRA is the dedicated account the council uses to pay for council housing and which tenants pay their rent into. 

The report goes on: “The buildings are ageing and require significant capital investment for repairs, maintenance and modernisation. 

“Many are dated with limited space [for tenants], no Wi-Fi or electric vehicle charging points.  

“Society has changed dramatically since the schemes were designed and they no longer meet the needs or aspirations of many of today’s over-60s, which is reflected in limited demand.   

“However, housing need in general is increasing and the council must make the best use of its scarce supply of affordable homes for the benefit of local households of all ages that desperately need a home. 

“This review has conducted extensive research and the findings are clear.   

“The full cost of the Sheltered Plus service is unaffordable to many because key elements of the service, such as night reassurance cover and the laundry service do not qualify for Housing Benefit, as they are personal care and not related to the provision of accommodation.   

“The unfunded costs have been met by the HRA, which is not what it is intended for and, with the other financial pressures on the HRA, the situation is unsustainable. 

“If the council is to survive as a social landlord, this hole in the finances must be addressed and services must adapt to changes in society to ensure they remain relevant for current and future generations.” 

The working group recommendations include: 

• standardising the service in sheltered housing and Sheltered Plus to provide a consistent service across the whole sheltered housing portfolio including removing the laundry service and stopping the provision of night reassurance cover 
• reducing the number of Independent Living Managers 
• improving the support provided by the Lifeline service 
• expanding provision, including telecare and telehealth 
• installing modern CCTV equipment, monitored by the council’s Central Control room 

In its report, the working group recognises the current Sheltered Plus arrangements give tenants and their families peace of mind and make them feel secure. 

It wants to listen closely to their views and concerns so we can take these fully into account before a decision is taken. 

The same applies to those council staff members that would be affected. 

The working group is recommending a comprehensive 12-week consultation.  

This will include personal one-to-one meetings with tenants and their families as well as gathering the views of the Resident Engagement Panel and Independent Living Forum which represent tenants and meetings with key stakeholders. 

The working group says each tenant would need a personalised support plan if the transition were to go ahead so residents are able to be carefully helped into the new arrangements. 

The current Sheltered Plus service is unique and not found anywhere else in Kent.  

It is provided at 127 properties across four schemes: 

• Lang Court in Whitstable  
• Cranmer House in Canterbury  
• Collard House in Canterbury  
• Whitgift Court in Canterbury  

The service was designed through consultation with tenants and their families after Kent County Council withdrew its Supporting People Grant in March 2018. 

They voted to keep and pay for services beyond standard sheltered housing including: 

• an on-site, non-residential Independent Living Manager during weekday office hours 
• a supported laundry service during weekdays because the kitchens of individual flats are too small to install a domestic washing machine, and tenants sometimes find the controls of the commercial-style machines in the communal laundry too heavy to operate 
• on-call night reassurance service, seven nights a week, in case of emergency 
• signposting to taking up activities, training, work or engaging with the community   
• advice about accessing health care and social care.   

At Whitgift Court and Lang Court there is a dedicated member of staff, whereas Collard House and Cranmer House share a member of staff and pay commensurately less.  

The night reassurance service does not provide a hands-on response in an emergency but contacts the relevant service or family member.  

The full cost of the Sheltered Plus service is too expensive for most tenants and a commitment was given by the council to subsidise the service for two years before it was reviewed, with the deficit underwritten by the HRA. 

Both sheltered housing and Sheltered Plus are supported by the council’s Lifeline service which enables tenants to raise an alarm in an emergency. 

The Overview Committee will meet at the Guildhall, St Peter’s Place, at 7pm on Thursday 22 May. 

You can view the agenda and read the working group’s full report here. 

Published: 14 May 2025