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Matter for
Decision
The introduction of
Universal Credit meant that new working-age claimants, or claimants who have
certain specified changes in circumstances, no longer claim Housing Benefit
from the Council, but claim Universal Credit (UC) from the Department for Work
and Pensions (DWP), which includes an amount for housing costs.
The report brought forward
recommendations following a review of the Revenues and Benefits service in the
light of this change.
Decision
of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources
i.
To restructure the Revenues and Benefits service,
as detailed in the officer’s
of the report.
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 Strategic Director.
The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:
i.
Queried what if any impact the changes would have
on staff; would staff be TUPE’d (Transfer of
Undertakings Protection of Employment) across.
ii.
Requested reassurance
that staff would be supported during this period.
iii.
Asked if the council could be sure that standards
would not drop supporting the vulnerable residents in the city.
iv.
Indicated that the
decision was inevitable
v.
Acknowledged the hard
work and dedicated staff that the council had and expressed disappointment that
the changes would have on them.
The Strategic Director said the following in response to Members’
questions:
i.
Staff would not be TUPE’d
as the Department of Working Pensions (DWP) had hired additional staff to
undertake the additional work. Therefore, there could be potential
redundancies.
ii.
When roles were redundant the council did try to
redeploy staff within the council and would work with staff to look at the
opportunities available.
iii.
Staff would be consulted and supported throughout
the process.
iv.
The Council did not have the power to redeploy
staff to external agencies.
v.
The work to support vulnerable people with their
housing cost would be dealt with by the DWP through the universal credit
scheme.
vi.
The council had a strategic interest to ensure that
residents had accessed their benefits, offering financial advice through
inclusion workers and council funding to external agencies such as citizens
advice bureau.
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor
(and any Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Executive Councillor.