Agenda item

To consider a report of the East North East Area Leader providing the meeting with an update of the work undertaken in the east north east to support the work of the citywide welfare reform strategy.

The report also sets out the actions developed focussing on the east north east ensuring that customers, service providers and stakeholders are prepared for and are able to respond to, the issues and requirements arising from the welfare reform strategy.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report providing the meeting with an update of the work undertaken in the east north east to support the work of the citywide welfare reform strategy.

The report also highlighted the actions developed focussing on the east north east ensuring that customers, service providers and stakeholders were prepared for and are able to respond to, the issues and requirements arising from the welfare reform strategy.

Appended to the report was a copy of the timetable for welfare reform and cuts in benefits for the information/comment of the meeting.

Sharon Hughes, East North East Area Improvement Manager presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• Clarification if vulnerable people would be affected by removing the option of having benefits paid direct to landlords

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and confirmed that this group of people would not be affected under the welfare reform strategy)

• The concerns expressed that many people would go into arrears
• The concerns expressed that the report failed to address such positive issues such as working initiatives, skills or part-time employment and with a requirement for the Area Committee to receive more information on the number of people affected, where they were and on the skills strategy to support them as opposed to being on benefit

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and agreed to include this detail within the next update report and to illustrate what other work was going on with Jobs and Skills)

• Clarification of the date when the strategy would be making an impact and the need for the Area Committee to see a previous Executive Board report on this issue which covered the proposals in greater detail

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and confirmed that it would be September 2012 when the strategy would be making an impact)

• The concerns expressed that 5,000 people would be affected by the proposals
• Clarification of the under occupancy procedures in place
• Clarification of how successful the voluntary, community and faith sector event was on 27^th June 2012

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and outlined the theme of the event. She agreed to forward a spread sheet to Area Committee Members showing the groups who attended)

• The need to acknowledge that Aire Valley Homes covered other parts of the Harewood ward and that this element should have been incorporated within the context of the report

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and agreed to address the work being undertaken by Aire Valley Homes in future reports)

• Clarification of the figures in paragraph 3.3 of the report in relation to the DWP letters issued to households effected by the new benefits cap and the need for the area Committee to see a breakdown of the figures for each ward

(The Area Improvement Manager responded and agreed to forward this information to Area Committee Members in due course)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That this Committee notes the progress made since the last update in March 2012.