Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report set out an update on the funding and use of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to support those that were affected by Welfare Reforms.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

     i.        Approved the carry forward to 2016/17of the unspent additional contribution

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Revenues and Benefits.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

i.             Asked what the likelihood of need for additional funding was anticipated for 2016/17.

ii.            Commented that whilst the Council was doing a lot to help people, there were a lot of policies on the horizon from Central Government which would impact on the City’s residents.

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Revenues and Benefits confirmed the following:

       i.                It was difficult to predict the trend for additional funding required as a result of the welfare reforms, however if the Council mitigated all the changes which arose from the welfare reforms, the cost to the Council could be £400,000.  It was not the intention for the Council to mitigate funding gaps in each case; however each case would need to be judged on its own circumstances.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources commented that point 6 on page 42 of the agenda set out the Council’s estimates in relation to need and the costings for 2016/17 and 2017/18.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.