Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee support the revised Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Policy for 2013/14; and

(b)       That the views of the Committee be reported to Cabinet in April 2013.

The Interim Manager (Finance) introduced a report to consider the Council’s revised Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Policy for 2013/14 following consideration of the item by the Corporate Housing Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 14 February 2013.  Views taken by both Committees would be reported to Cabinet in April 2013.

The Interim Manager explained the background to DHP which provided short-term financial assistance to help residents with their housing costs.  She spoke of the challenges faced by householders due to welfare reforms and said that the Council could not rely on DHP to underpin any under-occupancy problems.  In detailing the criteria used to assess entitlement to DHP, she said that this could not be used for help with Council Tax liability.

Councillor G. Hardcastle asked for clarification on the criteria described in the report.  The Interim Manager said that the individual’s circumstances would be taken into consideration together with steps that the person had taken to find alternative accommodation, however it was acknowledged that private sector rents were higher.

Councillor A.M. Halford asked if any thought had been given to Member involvement in the decision-reviewing process.  The Interim Manager said that this could be considered in due course.

Councillor R. Dolphin referred to residents who were still struggling with living costs despite moving to more manageable properties.  She pointed out that DHP was a short-term solution whereas this was a long-term problem.  The Interim Manager stressed that DHP was not a panacea and that funding was not unlimited, however each case would be considered individually.  The Welfare Reform Board understood the difficulties and assistance with budgeting could be provided to help residents make choices.

Councillor P.J. Curtis spoke of the unfairness in penalising residents who lived in under-occupied properties and the reduced funding available to Local Authorities who were aiming to help residents.

In praising the efforts of Flintshire housing officers, Councillor Hardcastle pointed out that all Authorities were in the same position.

Councillor Halford referred to comments made at a previous meeting by the Leader of the Council on the aspiration for the Council to build houses, which was an item included on the Forward Work Programme.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support the revised Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Policy for 2013/14; and

(b)       That the views of the Committee be reported to Cabinet in April 2013.