Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received a report of the Challenge for Change (C4C) Customer Scrutiny Panel’s project on the Council Housing Service’s preparation for the implementation of the Universal Credit (UC).

6.2

The purpose of the project was to investigate the Council’s Housing Service’s preparation for the implementation of UC, its impact on tenants, and to undertake reality checks with Council staff, other local authorities and stakeholder groups to see how its performance compared.

6.3

In attendance for this item were Tina Gilbert (Assistant Manager, Communities), Linda Moxon and Ian Alexander (C4C representatives).

6.4

The objectives of the project were to establish:-

·                     How the Council’s Housing Service work with other organisations e.g. Credit Union, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

·                     Which parts of the country had been dealing with this already and what had they done.

·                     How effective had the Council’s efforts been so far.

·                     What efforts had been made to encourage the use of direct debit, as this was considered to be a major public relations objective.

·                     What impact would this have on Housing + and the Housing Service’s resources.

6.5

The findings of the Panel were that:-

·                     Support resources for customers were available.

·                     There was good networking with other agencies.

·                     The use of direct debit was actively encouraged, where appropriate.

·                     A measured approach was being taken to the uptake of UC.

·                     The City Council was following the best practice of other local authorities.

·                     There was a suspicion that awareness/knowledge about UC would not be properly developed until it was made necessary by claimants.

·                     There was concern that the introduction of UC may have an impact on eviction rates.

·                     Housing+ would be able to support customers needing support.

6.6

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·                     The Housing Service would continue to campaign to get customers to use direct debit and integrate advice into the role of Housing+

·                     The Service would maintain its strong working relationship with DWP.

·                     UC awareness campaigns would be undertaken using the Council’s communications channels.

·                     The Service was doing all it could to warn customers of the negative aspects of money lenders.

·                     Regular reviews of the impact of UC would be undertaken by the Housing Service.

6.7

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       thanks Tina Gilbert, Linda Moxon and Ian Alexander for their attendance;

(b)       notes the contents of the report, comments made and responses to questions; and

(c)        requests that a Family Tree of the organisations involved in the implementation of Universal Credit be circulated to Committee Members.