Councillors wary about amendment

Changes to South Lanarkshire’s housing allocation policy, relating to medical processes, sparked criticism after it was revealed a minor amendment is required to ensure aims are being met.

The amendment relates to the assessment of the medical need element of a housing application.

This is conducted by an independent medical adviser, contracted by the council. Although the current process has worked well, it is proposed it be changed to remove the reference as to who is involved in the medical assessment.

This was met with criticism at the Housing and Technical Resources Committee last week from councillors.

ClydesdaleWest Councillor, Eileen Logan, said:“I would like to ask the question on the proposed configuration of medical assessments and the medical side of things because at the minute it works well.

“We have an impartial medical advisor; before we brought in that system it was very convoluted and very difficult for people.

“I would ask or hope that if this moves on, because it is very important, that we get a very fair system for people who are applying and that it is straight across the board for everybody.”

She added:“I really think it is of paramount importance that we don’t try a system and it doesn’t work out and then we have to come back to it.

“I think we have got to try the best we can to get whatever system we’re going to put in place and for it to work in the first go.”

Councillor Robert Brown (Rutherglen South) said:“It seems a little odd to remove the existing provision for medical certificates without actually yet having in place the alternative, it would make more sense to wait until the alternative is available and then make the alteration to the policy.”

The change has occurred as the current provider has withdrawn service and it is out of the council’s control.

New arrangements for the assessment of medical needs are under review.