Agenda item

That the report be noted.             

The Benefits Manager introduced the report to provide an update in relation to Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) following the consultation and adoption of the DHP Policy for 2013/14.  

She detailed the background to the report and explained that the resource available for DHP was a total of £544,645 which was £302,526 from Flintshire County Council and £242,119 from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).  Many households would suffer significant financial challenges due to the implementation of the changes to Welfare Benefits and a policy had been developed to detail the administration and processes that were to be followed when implementing the scheme and awarding financial assistance.  The objectives of the DHP scheme were reported and the Benefits Manager explained that the payments were designed to be a last resort, short term or lump sum payments to assist people to meet their housing costs to help them to achieve a sustainable situation for the future.  Applications for DHP had increased by 42% when compared to the same period last year and in the first quarter of this year 186 applications had been processed.  Almost 90% of the applications were due to welfare reform changes with the majority being as a result of reductions in Housing Benefit due to over occupation when tenants had spare rooms in their property.  Two decisions by the staff assessing applications had been subject to a first stage review by Team Leaders and in both cases, the original decisions were overturned and both claims paid following receipt of additional information.  Current expenditure was around £46,000 which equated to 8.5% of the total amount provided for in this year but it was expected that this would start to increase steadily over the next few months with a more significant increase due to the impacts of the Welfare Reform Programme. 

Councillor Ron Hampson said that 40% of appeals were being overturned and asked whether assistance was being provided to those who appealed as the appeal process could take up to 12 months to complete.  The Revenues and Benefits Manager responded that help and advice would be provided and that the key issue was providing support to those who needed it. 

The Chief Executive explained that Flintshire County Council had taken a proactive approach by undertaking a mapping exercise to identify those who would be affected by the benefit changes and provided as much assistance and guidance as was possible.  On the issue of Shotton being included in the Universal Credit pilot scheme, the Chief Executive expressed his surprise that he had been notified only hours before an announcement in Parliament, with no prior notice. He felt that the selection may have been due to Flintshire County Council being recognised at a high level for its preparations for Welfare Reform but expressed his concern at the small number of pilot areas that had been chosen. 

Councillor Ian Dunbar queried what would happen to those affected by Welfare Reform when the DHP had been utilised.  He also felt that the Minister who had made a statement about foodbanks was a disgrace and said that people were forced to use foodbanks due to the Welfare Reform cuts.  In response to a comment from Councillor Clive Carver, the Chief Executive confirmed that he had received a telephone call the previous day to confirm that Shotton, Deeside was one of the areas included in the pilot scheme from October 2013.  He also expressed his disappointment about the continuing comments of Members about late papers being circulated at the start of meetings.  He explained that what had been circulated today were copies of the presentations which had been presented and an update on Welfare Reform which Flintshire County Council had only been informed of the day before this meeting. 

Councillor Ian Smith asked whether social landlords were changing their policies about prospective tenants depending on their ability to pay.  The Revenues and Benefits Manager confirmed that payments to landlords for rent would reduce if the tenants were over occupying the property.  He said that the cost of welfare reform was falling on local authorities and reminded Members that DHP was a pot of money that would not be replaced when it was used up.  The Head of Finance said that the Head of Housing would be able to advise Members of the work ongoing with registered social landlords about making the best use of housing stock.  The Leader of the Council said he had not received any updates of the policies of registered social landlords and added that he would speak to the Head of Housing on the issue. 

Councillor Peter Curtis felt that Welfare Reform was the first steps to dismantling the welfare state and said that disabled people were being targeted and added that the results of the assessments of claimant’s ability to undertake work could not be justified.  He thanked the team for the work undertaken by Flintshire County Council. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.