Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, Councillor Peter Jeffries

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the Discretionary Housing Payment Policy in Appendix 2 is approved

2.    decisions relating to the award of Discretionary Housing Payments, in line with the policy and DWP guidance, are delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and designated officers within the Benefits team, with the final decision in the event of dispute being taken by the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.

3.    the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer is authorised to apply to DLUHC for an accounting direction if it appears that the annual allocation will be exceeded in any financial year

Introducing his report, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets said this scheme is for recipients of housing benefits or people on universal credit needing additional support. He said it doesn’t represent a  vast sum of money, and the council is fully compensated through the Department of Work and Pensions. The policy hasn’t been updated since 2018, but there are no major changes.

The Cabinet Member for Housing thanked the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets for his report, saying she was shocked at the number of residents struggling with no-fault evictions and having to find alternative affordable accommodation in Cheltenham. Despite the first increase for many years in the local housing allowance, there doesn’t appear to be a single property in Cheltenham that is covered by the new rate.  Although grateful for the additional funding, she is concerned that it is not enough and her heart goes out to those struggling to find accommodation.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets shared her concerns, saying that the small amount of additional money was welcome, but also indicative of the broken system after decades of housing crisis. 

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the Discretionary Housing Payment Policy in Appendix 2 is approved

2.    decisions relating to the award of Discretionary Housing Payments, in line with the policy and DWP guidance, are delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and designated officers within the Benefits team, with the final decision in the event of dispute being taken by the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.

3.    the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer is authorised to apply to DLUHC for an accounting direction if it appears that the annual allocation will be exceeded in any financial year