Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee continue to support the ongoing work that is being undertaken by the Council, together with its partners, to mitigate the full impact of present and future welfare reforms from falling upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households.

The Manager - Advice and Homelessness Service introduced an update report summarising the changes to be introduced to social security benefits over the next three years and, based on information available, the probable impact generated.  He advised that a more detailed briefing session open to all Council Members would be arranged for the end of November 2015.

The Manager provided an overview of the proposed reforms set out in the report and the potential impact on households in Flintshire.  Whilst the impact of the first phase of welfare reforms had been felt across the majority of communities, this would continue in the second phase creating additional pressures for lower income households with children, especially those in social housing.  Significant changes to Working Tax Credits and Universal Credit would have a greater impact on low income, working households.  The appendix to the report illustrated the consequences of the reduction to the benefit cap ceiling, which was expected to affect a higher proportion of unemployed households with children.  It was noted that the Government intended to implement around 70% of the proposals starting in April 2016, with some of the legislation possibly amended, however this would need to progress swiftly to achieve its aim of reducing expenditure on working-age benefits by a further £12 billion by 2018/19.  The increase in child poverty for households with a parent in employment was expected to grow further as more proposals were implemented.

The Chairman commented on the increased number of households that would be affected by the changes and the consequences for the Council in dealing with this.

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin commented on the need for individuals to make appropriate family choices according to their income levels.  She asked if any support was available to help hard-working households with low income who were likely to be particularly affected by the significant drop in the benefit cap ceiling.  The Manager said that by remaining in employment, those individuals could help towards excluding them from the benefit cap.  When the benefit cap had first been introduced in 2013, the Council had successfully targeted and helped a number of households to identify solutions to exempt them from the benefit cap, however there were some households with issues that meant that they were not able to work.  With regard to the reduction in the amount of ‘out of work’ benefits to which a working age household is entitled, it was confirmed that this included any reduction in the amount of Council Tax.

Whilst agreeing with the point made, Councillor Peter Curtis pointed out that some individuals were not able to gain employment in their areas and that employers needed to do what they could by paying decent wages.  He went on to refer to the responsibility of the Government to help keep people with disabilities out of poverty.

Councillor Nancy Matthews raised a query on eligibility for free school meals which impacted on school claims for the Pupil Deprivation Grant.  It was explained that households currently in receipt of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37