Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Change and Communities seeking consideration of the findings of the Inquiry on the Welfare Reforms that was presented to Cabinet on 16 April 2013

(i)  To approve, in principle, subject to resources, all recommendations from the Scrutiny Panel A Welfare Reforms Inquiry for implementation, as set out in Appendix 1.

(ii)  To note that the Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations 1 and 2, relating to Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, were agreed by Council on the 16^th January 2013. Recommendations 3 and 4, relating to Social Fund/Local Welfare Provision were agreed by Council on the 13^th February 2013.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Head of Communities, Change and Partnerships and the Head of Finance and IT, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Change and Communities and the Cabinet Member for Resources, to agree allocation of Local Welfare Provision funding for 2013/14 and 2014/15.

(iv)  To allocate £128,800 from the General Fund Revenue Budget contingency of £458,500 in order to provide the additional resources as set out in Appendix 2, which it is forecast will enable the implementation of the recommendations from the Scrutiny Panel A Welfare Reforms Inquiry detailed in Appendix 1 in full.

(v)  To agree the establishment of a city-wide, Welfare Reforms Monitoring Group, chaired by the Cabinet Member for Change and Communities.

Cabinet considered Scrutiny Panel A’s Inquiry report on Welfare Reforms on 16^th April 2013 and has to make a formal response within 2 months. Therefore, this report details Cabinet’s response to the recommendations of the Welfare Reforms Inquiry.

None. Cabinet is required to consider and respond to outcomes of Scrutiny Panel Inquiries.