Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and to make the following resolutions:

(1)  That the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) Policy for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 be approved.

(2)  That any additional funding required for 2018-2019 to supplement the earmarked Welfare Reform Reserve to be considered during the forthcoming budget process.

RESOLVED

1.     That the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) Policy for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 be approved.

2.     That it be approved that during the forthcoming budget process consideration will be given to any additional funding required for 2018-2019 to supplement the earmarked Welfare Reform Reserve.

3.     That the Head of Finance and Governance Services be given delegated authority, following consultation with the Cabinet member for Finance and Governance Services, to make minor amendments to the DHP policy.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its appendix.

The report was presented by Mrs Hardwick.

Mrs Rogers was in attendance for this item.

Mrs Hardwick explained that the Discretionary Housing Benefit Payment scheme was a central government scheme funded through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to alleviate poverty and hardship by assisting directly with housing costs where benefit receipts (whether Universal Credit or Housing Benefit) did not fully cover an individual’s liability to pay rent or related housing costs. The policy intended to guide the Council’s delivery of the scheme for the remainder of this financial year and next. While the DWP allocated funding, the scheme allowed authorities to increase this by a further 50%. Although Council reserves for topping up the DWP funds for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) payments had not been required beyond the DWP budget in previous years, the welfare reforms rolled out since 2013 (including the bedroom tax, the Benefit Cap and Universal Credit) might well increase future demand for DHP. The DHP policy had to ensure that policies and funding could control the budget within the limits of the DWP funded allocation (currently £232,844) and the current reserve of £142,000. The adequacy of the reserve would be considered as part of the 2018-2019 budget process.

Members were invited to submit any minor suggestions or comments on the wording of the policy to Mrs Rogers. 

Mrs Hardwick explained that a further recommendation had been added since publication of the agenda for delegated authority to be given to the Head of Finance and Governance Services to make minor amendments to the DHP Policy following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance Services.

In response to Mr Barrow’s concern regarding the effect of Universal Credit payments on the public, Mrs Rogers confirmed that payments would be made directly to the tenant but any requirement for payment to cover the waiting period would need to be discussed directly with the DWP.

In response to Mrs Taylor’s request to understand how private sector tenants were made aware of the scheme, Mrs Rogers explained that the DHP scheme was advertised on the Council’s website and third party organisations referred where appropriate.

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands in favour of making the resolutions (including the additional third resolution) as set out below.

RESOLVED

1.     That the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) Policy for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 be approved.

2.     That it be approved that during the forthcoming budget process consideration will be given to any additional funding required for 2018-2019 to supplement the earmarked Welfare Reform Reserve.

3.     That the Head of Finance and Governance Services be given delegated authority, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance Services, to make minor amendments to the DHP policy.