The report of the Strategic Director Corporate Services (Document “BQ”) outlines how Discretionary Housing Payments could be used to mitigate the impacts of the further benefit cap on the District’s poorest households and to support people into employment.

Recommended -

(1)          That the DHP policy be amended as set out in appendix A to prioritise families by extending the period that the DHP can be awarded to ensure more stability of tenure. And  so that where appropriate, an adult or both adults from a household applying for a DHP are encouraged to undertake skills training or access other work-orientated support.

(2)          That Council officers responsible for skills and training programmes and other work-orientated programmes (such as Skills for Bradford, Get Bradford Working)  work with officers in in Revenues and Benefits to investigate and, if viable and cost neutral,  share their client data  subject to the consent of the data subject or otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the law for the purpose of:

(1)          Identifying parents and other adults who could benefit from provision aimed at supporting them into work or full employment.

(3)          That Executive instructs the Strategic Director of Corporate Services to involve the relevant Portfolio Holders and the Council’s Anti-Poverty Champion in any further development of the DHP Policy.

(4)          That Council officers in Revenues and Benefits Service ensure that Discretionary Housing Payments are promoted to parents through schools and through other locations in the district to ensure parents are aware of the support available and how to apply for it.

(5)          That the Chief Executive provide a wider report for the Executive at the earliest time on how the impact of welfare changes can be mitigated on the poorest families and how parents can be supported to access employment

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(Martin Stubbs/Helen Johnston – 01264432056/434401)

The report of the Strategic Director Corporate Services (Document “BQ”) outlined how Discretionary Housing Payments could be used to mitigate the impacts of the further benefit cap on the District’s poorest households and to support people into employment.

The Strategic Director advised members that the Government had announced that single people under 22 would no longer qualify for Housing Benefit.

A Councillor who was a member of the Anti-Poverty Co-ordination Group attended the meeting.  She expressed concern that the welfare cap was having a negative impact on families and children.  She stressed that the Anti-Poverty Co-ordination Group was being pro-active in helping families.  She noted that Bradford was the city with the youngest population in the Country and emphasised the need to lift people out of poverty and take a lead on the issue of housing.

In response to a member question the Strategic Director noted that the earnings cap had been reduced to £20,000 for a family with 3 children.  It was estimated that there were 2,500 children in the district, in families affected by the cap.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder who was the Chair of the Children’s Trust Board noted the number of children in Bradford living in poverty and that the proportion was higher in the inner city.  She welcomed the proposals in helping to reduce poverty.

The Leader commented that the proposals would help to mitigate the effects of the government austerity policy on the poorest in society.

Resolved -

(1)          That the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) policy be amended as set out in appendix A to Document “BQ” to prioritise families by extending the period that the DHP can be awarded to ensure more stability of tenure. And  so that where appropriate, an adult or both adults from a household applying for a DHP are encouraged to undertake skills training or access other work-orientated support.

(2)          That Council officers responsible for skills and training programmes and other work-orientated programmes (such as Skills for Bradford, Get Bradford Working)  work with officers in in Revenues and Benefits to investigate and, if viable and cost neutral,  share their client data  subject to the consent of the data subject or otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the law for the purpose of:

(1)          Identifying parents and other adults who could benefit from provision aimed at supporting them into work or full employment.

(3)          That the Strategic Director of Corporate Services be instructed to involve the relevant Portfolio Holders and the Council’s Anti-Poverty Champion in any further development of the DHP Policy.

(4)          That Council officers in Revenues and Benefits Service ensure that Discretionary Housing Payments are promoted to parents through schools and through other locations in the district to ensure parents are aware of the support available and how to apply for it.

(5)          That the Chief Executive provide a wider report for the Executive at the earliest time on how the impact of welfare changes can be mitigated on the poorest families and how parents can be supported to access employment

ACTION:        Strategic Director, Corporate Services

Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee