Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

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

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

i.  Approved the carry forward to the 2018/19 financial year the final unspent additional DHP contribution (see paragraph 4.7 of the Officer’s report).

ii. Delegated approval for the future carry forward of any underspent additional DHP contribution, to Head of Revenues and Benefits.

 

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 Benefit Manager.

 

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

     i.        Found the reports useful for gathering data on inequality.

    ii.        Commented that the local housing allowance appeared to have an upward trend.

   iii.        Asked with the benefit cap whether more people were moving onto the scheme.

  iv.        Asked for officer’s comments on the Discretionary Housing Payment.

 

The Benefit Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        The Council had a robust triage process and considered every individual benefit cap referral. Where the Council could support an individual into work the benefit cap did not apply. When the individual was not subject to a benefit cap, discretionary housing payment would not be made.  

    ii.        The Local Housing Allowance was based on a broad rental market area.

   iii.        Commented on the benefit cap that she had seen a reduction in caseload and this was not being replaced.

  iv.        The carry forward of the underspend would allow the Council to support the most vulnerable for the next few years. During which time a review of other grant income to support Discretionary Housing Payments would be undertaken. Discretionary Housing Payment support for Local Housing Allowance was generally a temporary support measure, however we are mindful that it is not always possible to assist people to move, as quite often, individuals in receipt of Discretionary Housing Payments had local caring responsibilities.

 

Councillor Cantrill proposed and Councillor Bick seconded an amendment to the recommendation to delete paragraph 2.2 of the recommendation.

 

On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 4 votes to 2.

 

The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor 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.