Issue - meetings

The Director of Customer & Corporate Services to present a report which provides an update on the impact of welfare benefits changes in York, benefits statistics and performance as administered by the council and other financial inclusion activity during 2018/19, and proposes action to implement the recommendations from the Financial Inclusion Scrutiny Review that were approved by Executive in March 2019.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that councillors, residents and groups are aware of financial activity and the use of associated funding and are updated on welfare benefits changes and their impacts.

(ii)      That the actions to deliver the agreed recommendations from the Financial Inclusion Scrutiny Review as set out in Annex 3, be approved,

Reason:     To ensure that the agreed scrutiny actions are implemented.

The Assistant Director, Customer & Digital Services presented a report which provided an update on the impact of welfare benefits changes in York, as well as benefits statistics and performance and other financial inclusion activity undertaken during 2018/19.  It also proposed action to implement the recommendations from the Financial Inclusion Scrutiny Review approved by Executive on 18 March 2019 (Minute 134 of that meeting refers).

The latest statistics on Universal Credit (UC) were detailed in paragraphs 3-4 of the report.  Following the takeover of the UC service by Citizens’ Advice Bureaux in April 2019, the council had worked closely with Citizens Advice York (CAY) and other partners to ensure a smooth transition and had updated and circulated information on how customers could access support.  The current position on the provision of support to residents through Council Tax Support (CTS), Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and the York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) was set out in paragraphs 19-32 and in Annexes 1 (DHP) and 2 (YFAS). 

The remainder of the report covered other activities funded by the council to support financial inclusion, via the Financial Inclusion Steering Group (FISG) and the area-based programme set up to support people in Westfield and parts of Clifton, Guildhall, Heworth and Hull Road wards.  A draft action plan to implement the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review was attached at Annex 3.

The Executive Members for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods and Economy & Strategic Planning commended the report, which encompassed both practical actions and a comprehensive review.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that councillors, residents and groups are aware of financial activity and the use of associated funding and are updated on welfare benefits changes and their impacts.

(ii)      That the actions to deliver the agreed recommendations from the Financial Inclusion Scrutiny Review as set out in Annex 3, be approved,

Reason:     To ensure that the agreed scrutiny actions are implemented.