Agenda item

Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Policy Development and Review

This report provides an overview of the main changes to the welfare benefits system, assessing their potential implications for residents through the use of three case studies.  It identifies the issues for Surrey; the related consequences for Surrey County Council and its partners; and includes a summary of the strategic approach that Surrey partners are taking to support residents who are affected and to minimise additional pressure on services. 

Declarations of interest: None.

Witnesses: Mary Burguieres, Lead Manager Policy and Strategic Partnerships

Daphne Fraser, Senior Principal Accountant, Funding

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Committee was provided with an outline of the work undertaken by the cross-Surrey Welfare Reform Co-ordination Group. Officers commented that significant progress to identify the financial impacts of welfare reform, both on an incremental and cumulative level. It was highlighted that the group most likely to be affected by the reforms was low-income working families. The Committee was informed that there was a challenge in developing an early help offer and other preventative services, as many of these families were not receiving high-level support from Council services. It was commented by officers that one of the key challenges was developing co-ordination between different provisions in order to provide effective transition between services, and consistent support to those who needed it.

2.    The Committee asked what additional support was being put into advice services. Officers highlighted that £1.5 million of funding had been used to commission ‘GetWise’, an information, advice and guidance resource that also provided outreach support. The Committee questioned why funding had been allocated to develop a new offer, when organisations such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) offered similar services. Officers commented that GetWise was developing a complementary offer to existing provisions. The Committee was informed that commissioners had followed an open procurement process when considering a number of different bids in relation to the awarding of funding. Members highlighted that questions about this process had been raised a meeting of the Adult Social Care Select Committee on 11 April 2013, and that the Committee had recommended that GetWise’s performance be reviewed after one year into its current three year funding. Officers highlighted that representatives from both GetWise and CAB sat on the cross-Surrey Welfare Reform Co-ordination Group.

3.    The Committee had a discussion around Universal Credit, and the need to support claimants in developing both their financial-management and digital skills. Officers commented that the intention was to weave this support into existing services, such as libraries, and a scheme was currently being piloted in Reigate with the intention of extending this provision in the future.

4.    Members asked what work was being undertaken to identify the likely impact of welfare reform on the economy. It was confirmed that the Council was working with Local Enterprise Partnerships to consider what support could be developed around employment and skills across the County.

5.    The Committee praised the report, but also highlighted that it was not clear what action plans were being developed in relation to welfare reform. It was also commented that further consideration would need to be given to how services were responding to the changes, and whether there would need to be alterations in individual service priorities in order to take the effect of welfare reform into account. It was proposed that a Member Task Group be set up and report back to the Committee at a later date. The following Members volunteered to join the task group: Stephen Cooksey, Bob Gardner, David Harmer, Denise Saliagopoulos and Chris Townsend.

Resolved:

·         That the Committee set up a Member Task Group to gather evidence from a range of stakeholders on the impacts of welfare reform and key issues for Surrey County Council and partners.

Actions/further information to be provided:

None.

Committee Next Steps:

The Committee to consider a report and recommendations once the Task Group has completed its work.