Agenda item - Welfare Reform: Responses to Recommendations made by the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion

a)    Extract of the Proceedings of the Neighbourhood’s, Communities and Equalities Committee held on 23 November 2015 (copy attached).

b)    Report presented to the Neighbourhood’s, Communities and Equalities Committee on 23 November 2015 (copy attached for information).   

(1)          That the extract and report be noted along with the committee’s comments.

57.1    The Committee considered an extract of the proceedings of the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee and a report of the Director of Public Health and the Executive Director of Finance & Resources which was referred for information.  The report set out the council’s response to the recommendations contained in the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion’s (CESI) independent report into the impacts of the welfare reform measures which were due to take effect.  This work had been undertaken in order to inform commissioning decisions and development of strategies to support those citizens who would face the most significant impacts as a result of the changes, also, to provide context and information to inform policy development and budget decisions generally. The extract and report was presented by the Head of Income, Inclusion & Improvement.

57.2    Councillor Gibson referred to paragraph 36.3 of the extract of the minutes of the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee.  He thought that the statement that households claiming benefits would be on average £2,300 per year worse off was chilling.  He was disappointed that the government could not come up with a system for protecting vulnerable people. Councillor Gibson stated that conversations would need to be held on whether people could afford to live in the city.  This could lead to a form of social cleansing.

57.3    The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement reported that there would be delay in payment of about six weeks for anyone claiming Universal Credit.  For the first week no payment was made.  After six weeks they would be paid five weeks in arrears.  The Head of Income, Involvement & Improvement reported on an error in paragraph 3.16 of the report.  This should read that private sector rents had been increasing by approximately 5% a year in the city over the last four years.

57.4    Councillor Mears referred to the council tax reduction scheme.  In 2012 there were 27809 people claiming.  In 2015 there were 23804.  This showed that there were more people in work. The city was out performing the country.

57.5    RESOLVED:-

(1)            That the extract and report be noted along with the committee’s comments.