To consider the establishment of any Task and Finish Groups and receive any updates.
Minutes:
Councillor Robin Perry briefed Members on the outcomes of a Member Task and Finish Group established to review the impact of recent Government Benefits reforms on this Council and its residents and to advise this Committee on possible courses of action to mitigate any impacts.
The Task and Finish Group considered that the following changes had impacted on the Council and those in or potentially in receipt of benefits:
(i) Council Tax replaced by Local Council Tax Support Schemes – April 2013;
(ii) Social Sector Size Criteria – April 2013;
(iii) Benefit Cap – July 2013
(iv) Universal Credit – February 2016;
(v) Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction backdating – April 2016;
(vi) Withdrawal of Family Premium – May 2016;
(vii) Changes to Temporary Absence Rules – July 2016;
(viii) Reduction in benefit cap levels – November 2016; and
(ix) Further changes to qualifying criteria – April 2017.
It was noted that the following benefits had not been affected by the Benefits Cap:
· Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
· Armed Forces Independence Payment
· Attendance Allowance
· Carer’s Allowance
· Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
· Employment and Support Allowance (if support component in payment)
Guardian’s Allowance
Members highlighted monies that had been made available to mitigate the impact of the various changes and noted the areas where the mitigation could not be applied.
Focussing on local impacts, Members had identified the following key local needs:
(i) An increase in the number PCs available to welfare benefit applicants, and the number of local locations where access would be possible;
(ii) An increase in the number of PC and benefit competent advisors who could help applicants complete claim forms;
(iii) An increase in the number of advisors (must be qualified) who could help with debt counselling;
(iv) Better local access to short term loans to those left without support between date of claim and date of approval and receipt of grant; and
(v) An increase in the number of one bedroom properties available for social rent.
Overall, the Task and Finish Group had suggested that the best way to meet the identified needs and address what was an increasing problem, was to facilitate a stronger working relationship with and provide an increased level of financial support to specialist local charities, particularly given the expertise which existed in the community, which could assist in this complex area of work.
Having highlighted the impact of the various measures and possible mitigating actions which could be considered, the Task and Finish Group had proposed that the Committee make appropriate recommendations to the Executive.
After further debate, the Committee agreed to advise the Executive to consider a number of actions which could potentially mitigate the impact of recent measures relating to a range of benefits.
Resolved, that the Executive be advised to consider the following actions, with respect to the impact of benefit changes on Borough residents:
(i) Increase the number of locations in the Borough where it would be possible for claimants to complete a claim form and get basic advice, and fulfil their obligations regarding making job applications.
a) That an appeal for “spare” PCs be made to local organisations. Recommended Action Addressees: SHBC + CAB
b) That an appeal be made for volunteers who would like to help, and who are able to drive a PC and are willing to undergo basic training re completing Benefit claim forms. – Action: Borough + CAB
c) That an appeal be made for venues that could host advisory sessions throughout the Borough on a FOC basis, e.g. Pubs in the morning, community centres, churches etc. Recommended Action addressees: CAB/SHBC
d) Facilitate the production of YouTube based training modules designed to help applicants understand and complete benefit application forms. (Could possibly be sold to other Authorities.) Recommended Action Addressee: SHBC
e) A relatively small budget would be required to fund the promotion of the schemes and training and the production of the “How to Complete the XXX benefit claim form or complete a CV” etc.
(ii) Increase the number of locally based qualified advisors:
a) CAB believes that to meet current demand, that would require a full time Welfare Benefits Specialist (FCA qualified) and part time paid Debt caseworker, they would be supported by the many volunteer advisors at the centre. Total cost circa £38,000pa – CAB have indicated that they could part fund this. Recommended Action Addressee: SHBC
b) Frontline do not currently receive any assistance from SHBC – they are financed by donations from local Churches. They could also cope with more cases if they had extra funds.
A grant of £4k` was recommended – Recommended Action Addressee: SHBC
c) Facilitate extra training for existing SHBC staff. Cost to be clarified. Recommended Action Addressee: SHBC
(iii) Establish a much stronger working relationship with Surrey Credit Union and other similar, who are able to offer a much more cost effective short term loan service than commercial operators like Wonga and other pay day schemes. Recommended Action Addressees: SHBC/CAB;
(iv) Lobby our National, Universal Credit and SCC representatives to ensure that they understand the impact of the new changes and hear our suggestions as to how matters could be improved; and
(v) Include, in the Local Plan, a planned increase in the number of one bedroom social housing units.