Issue - items at meetings - Promoting Financial Inclusion amongst Council housing residents

Report of Head of Housing & Social Inclusion (copy attached).

(1)       That the commissioning of new services be approved, as outlined in the report, in order to promote financial inclusion amongst council housing residents using the Community Banking Partnership model. 

98.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Head of Housing and Social Inclusion which outlined proposals for investment in services to promote financial inclusion amongst council housing residents.  The report built upon the successful financial inclusion work undertaken by the Housing & Social Inclusion delivery unit and outlined proposals for delivering a step change in the availability of services which promoted financial inclusion amongst council housing residents. 

98.2    The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion stated that the report had been well received at the Housing Management Consultative Committee held on 19 March. 

98.3    Councillor Farrow referred to paragraph 4.4 of the report in relation to specialist debt and money advice.  Although £80,000 was a substantial sum of money, he was concerned that there could be a need for more than 480 in depth specialist casework interventions.  He urged the Cabinet Member and officers to see if resources could be found to enable more interventions if required.   

98.4    The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion replied that the proposals could be reviewed in a year’s time.  The figure of 480 was based on a recognised formula.   Councillor Farrow was not satisfied with this reply and felt that the situation needed to be constantly reviewed as people took up the service. 

98.5    Councillor Peltzer Dunn considered that officers had taken a reasoned approach. 

98.6    The Cabinet Member welcomed the report.  She was concerned at the effects of benefit changes and considered that the proposals would support council tenants.

98.7    RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member made the following decision:

(1)       That the commissioning of new services be approved, as outlined in the report, in order to promote financial inclusion amongst council housing residents using the Community Banking Partnership model. 

Report of Head of Housing & Social Inclusion (copy attached).

93.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Housing and Social Inclusion which outlined proposals for investment in services to promote financial inclusion amongst council housing residents.  The report built upon the successful financial inclusion work undertaken by the Housing & Social Inclusion delivery unit and outlined proposals for delivering a step change in the availability of services which promoted financial inclusion amongst council housing residents. 

93.2    Councillor Duncan welcomed the proposals and stated that he would like to see a further report in a year’s time. 

93.3    Councillor Mears questioned whether the report was appropriate to housing as only 25% of residents lived in council housing.  She thought that it should be considered in a more corporate context.

93.4    The Chair stressed that housing organisations were taking these initiatives to protect rents and help people in arrears.  There was separate funding allocated from last year’s budget for non council tenants in the city.  

93.5    Councillor Farrow considered the report was excellent.  He drew attention to paragraph 3.5 of the report and stressed that when universal credit was introduced, it would result in benefit payments for housing costs being paid directly to tenants.  Councillor Farrow referred to paragraph 4.4 which related to specialist debt and money advice.  He considered that £80,000 was not enough money for specialist caseworker interventions.  He hoped this could be reviewed in a year’s time. 

93.6    John Melson referred to paragraph 3.3 in the report and stressed that the proposal for a financial inclusion strategy needed to be implemented in a sensitive manner. 

93.7    Roy Crowhurst thought the report was excellent.  He asked if the council had spoken to any banks in the city and pointed out that some banks were very choosy about who received bank accounts.   

93.8    The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion reported that officers had been speaking to Barclays and the Co-operative Bank.  Both carried out financial inclusion work.  It was important to target interventions.  

93.9    Stewart Gover noted that there was no mention of pensioners or people on fixed incomes in the report.  Many people on pensions paid through Paypoint who were not quick in transferring money.

93.10  RESOLVED - That the approach proposed for the delivery of new services to promote financial inclusion in Council housing, as outlined in the report, be endorsed.