Issue - meetings

Report of the Interim Director of Resources

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members and reminded them that in March a new scheme had been agreed for allocating discretionary housing payments for 2016/17.  He advised that if the Council continued to pay the discretionary housing payment contribution in line with the current scheme the total amount would be in the region of £72,000, which meant that an unspent grant of approximately £43,000 would need to be returned to the Government.  To avoid this, it was therefore proposed that the Council continue to pay discretionary housing payments at 100 percent for the next three months and then if there was adequate funding, to carry on paying 100 percent for the final three months of 2016/17.  He added that if there was inadequate funding the support would be reduced to 50 percent for the final three months.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss  and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.   Contrary to the 2016/17 Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Scheme, 100% DHP is paid for months seven to nine of 2016/17.

2.   If there is adequate funding at the end of month nine, DHP will continue to be paid at 100% for the final three months of the 2016/17 year. In the event of inadequate funding, the council will revert back to the scheme and reduce support to 50% for the final three months of the 2016/17 year.

Reason for decision: To allocate DHP to claimants of housing benefit who need further financial assistance.