Issue - meetings

That the Committee continues to support the on-going work to manage the impacts that Welfare Reforms have and will have upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households.

The Benefits Manager introduced the report to provide an update on the impact Universal Credit ‘Full Service’ and other welfare reforms were having on Flintshire’s residents and the work which was ongoing to mitigate and support households.   She provided background information and gave a presentation on Welfare Reform in Flintshire which covered the following key points:

·         Pre Universal Credit Reforms

o   Bedroom Tax

o   Benefit Cap

·         Universal Credit

o   Issues and Impacts

·         Support Work

o   Personal Budgeting support

o   Assisted Digital support

o   Discretionary Housing Payments

·         Projected Welfare Reform impacts

·         Data Analysis

·         Future Welfare Reforms (from 2020)

o   LHA Restriction – scrapped for Social Housing Tenants

o   LHA Restriction – scrapped for supported Accommodation

o   Ring fenced funding for Emergency Accommodation 

            `           The Chairman thanked the Benefits Manager for a detailed and informative presentation and invited Members to raise questions.

                        Councillor Paul Shotton referred to the concerns he had raised previously around the impact of Universal Credit and commented on the issue of rent arrears.  He expressed praise for the work of the Benefits Manager and her Team for the support and guidance provided to Flintshire residents, which had been recognised by the Welsh Government.

                        Councillor David Wisinger said he had received complaints from some  residents that they had been unable to make payment for rent locally and had experienced difficulties when contacting the Authority by telephone to speak about Universal Credit.  The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) agreed to follow up the concerns expressed by Councillor Wisinger following the meeting.

                        During discussion the Housing Solutions and Commissioning Manager responded to the questions and concerns raised around homelessness and explained the impact of the Universal Credit full service and the resultant pressure on Flintshire’s homelessness budget.  She advised that the Government was planning to introduce a change in legislation in the New Year to provide an alternative way for Local Authorities to recover some of the costs incurred when placing an individual or family in short term emergency accommodation.

                        Officers responded to the questions raised by Councillor George Hardcastle concerning provision of interim accommodation and use of bed and breakfast accommodation.  Councillor Hardcastle also raised questions around the issue of tenants in rent arrears, and the difficulty experienced by tenants who wished to ‘downsize’ to a smaller property but were unable to do so due to a lack of suitable properties available.  The Chief Officer gave an assurance that contact was made as soon as possible with residents who were in rent arrears to provide information and support around income and entitlement. 

RESOLVED:  

That the Committee continues to support the on-going work to manage the impacts that Welfare Reforms have and will have upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households.