Agenda item

That the Committee notes the Quarter 3 Improvement Plan Monitoring Reports and will continue to highlight and monitor poor performance and feedback details of any challenge to the Policy, Performance & Partnerships Team for reporting to Cabinet where appropriate. 

The Chief Officer (Governance) introduced a report for the Committee to note and consider elements of the 2014/15 Improvement Plan Monitoring report relevant to the Committee for the period October to December 2014.

                        He provided a detailed explanation on the following areas:-

·         Welfare Reform

·         Organisational Change

·         Financial Strategy

·         Procurement Strategy

·         Asset Strategy

·         Access to Council Services

·         People Change & Development

The Leader of the Council thanked the Chief Officer for his presentation and apologised for the limited number of Chief Officers in attendance at this meeting; he provided assurance that this would not be replicated in the future.  He explained that the Council had agreed the Improvement Priorities in June 2014 and the Wales Audit Office Corporate Assessment report, that was to be submitted to Cabinet on 17 March 2015, provided positive comments on how the priorities had been applied.  He commented on the two additional Extra Care schemes proposed for Flintshire and of the commitment to the continued roll out of the Flintshire Connects service in Buckley and Mold.  Risks had also been identified which included Welfare Reform and the roll out of Universal Credit to families in the Shotton Jobcentre Plus catchment area in addition to the single claimants that were involved in the pilot scheme.  There was a high level of confidence that the improvement objectives would be achieved and there were no concerns about non-achievement of the priorities.  It was a positive report even though more work was required. 

In commenting on the roll out of Universal Credit to families in the Shotton area, Councillor Paul Shotton queried whether assurance had been sought from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on the level of funding to be provided to continue the service currently provided to those individuals involved in the pilot scheme.  In response the Leader confirmed that funding was currently received from DWP which had allowed one-to-one support to the small number of Universal Credit claimants involved in the pilot scheme.  As the number of families that would be affected by the roll out of Universal Credit was not yet known, the funding would be monitored to ensure that an adequate level was received to continue the excellent service provided to those claimants.  Councillor Shotton also raised concern at the note on the introduction of the spare room subsidy highlighted in the report. 

Councillor Peter Curtis agreed with the concerns about the level of funding for the roll out of Universal Credit to families.  Councillor Curtis also raised significant concern about the changes to the Blue Badge scheme, particularly about the form that applicants were required to complete and that staff, who were not medically trained, would be determining whether individuals were entitled to a Blue Badge.  He welcomed the decision by Welsh Government to reconsider the guidelines that had been produced for Councils on the implementation of the scheme and highlighted concerns raised by residents.  Councillor Curtis also referred to workshops for Members that had taken place on the changes to the scheme and the Chairman commented that he felt that the workshops had not been helpful and spoke of similar comments from residents on the scheme. 

In response to a question from Councillor Ron Hampson, the Chief Officer (Governance) confirmed that Housing Benefit would cease to exist under Universal Credit and that claimants would receive a single benefit payment which could include an element for their housing.  The Leader said that concerns had been raised about the impact of Universal Credit roll out and whether this would result in an increase in rent arrears.  It was reported that there were currently 180 live Universal Credit claims and that 19 claimants had been referred to the Citizens Advice Bureau for personal budgeting support and 88 claims had been referred from Jobcentre Plus to the Council’s Housing Benefit Service. 

Councillor Marion Bateman concurred with the comments on the Blue Badge scheme and sought clarification on the progress of the Mold Flintshire Connects service.  Councillor Bernie Attridge explained that concerns had been raised with the Minister on the provision of the Blue Badge scheme and a response was currently awaited that would be shared with Members once it had been received.  On the issue of Mold Connects office, the Leader explained that a report was to be submitted to Cabinet on 17 March 2015.  It was proposed that the service could be provided within the Mold Library building and that a further Connects office could be progressed in Buckley. 

In response to a question from Councillor Andy Dunbobbin on the number of sanctions that had been issued to Universal Credit claimants, the Chief Officer advised that he would speak to the Revenues & Benefits Manager and would provide a response to Committee Members.  

            RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the Quarter 3 Improvement Plan Monitoring Reports and will continue to highlight and monitor poor performance and feedback details of any challenge to the Policy, Performance & Partnerships Team for reporting to Cabinet where appropriate.