Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Bibby introduced the report which provided a combined operational update on the latest welfare response impacts and current levels of 2022/23 housing rent arrears.

Rent arrears up to week 34 were £2.9m, compared to £2.7m at the same point the previous year.  The ongoing cost of living crisis was having a detrimental impact on collections with some tenants struggling to meet the increasing living costs.

The use of the risk-based software was still being deployed to mitigate risks and ensure that early engagement was made with those tenants who were failing to maintain their rent payments.

The report also provided a further update on the impacts that welfare reforms continued to have on residents and other cost of living challenges.  It also provided an update on the work that was ongoing to mitigate many of those challenges and to support those households through the cost of living crisis.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the latest financial position for 2022/23 rent collections be noted; and

(b)       That the ongoing work to manage the impacts that welfare reform has, and will continue to have, on some of the most vulnerable residents along with implementing support via Welsh Government support measures to mitigate the cost of living crisis be supported.