Agenda item

Purpose of the report:  Policy Development and Review

This is a report of the interim findings of the Welfare Reform Task Group, which was commissioned by the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee (COSC) to investigate the impacts of welfare reform and key issues for Surrey County Council and its partners.

Declarations of interest: None.

Task Group members in attendance:

David Harmer (Chairman)

Stephen Cooksey

Bob Gardener

Fiona White

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Chairman of the Welfare Reform Task Group commented that the process had been instructive, and that both officer and external witnesses had made similar comments. It was outlined that the Task Group had identified a number of areas of concern, as detailed in the interim report.

2.    The Committee discussed the Local Assistance Scheme (LAS) and its considerable current under-spend. The chairman of the task group stated there could be an under-spend of £900,000 on the LAS, which would be returned to general balances at the end of the financial year. The Chairman of the Welfare Reform Task Group highlighted the recommendation that this funding be ring-fenced and targeted to develop early-intervention support, particularly in relation to money management. He also noted that central government spending for the scheme would cease from April 2015. A member suggested that the County Council should be advertising the Local Assistance Scheme, in addition to the Districts and Boroughs, in order to increase awareness of this source of help.

3.    The Committee commented that the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) had an important role in providing support for those affected by welfare reforms. It was commented that the CAB offered holistic expertise and had already piloted a scheme advising on money management.  The Committee noted that the report indicated a 17% rise in welfare related queries in the past year, half of which was due to the administration of LAS.

4.    The Committee discussed the role of GetWiS£ in relation to the provision of advice in regard to welfare reform. The Chairman of the Adult Social Care Select Committee highlighted that the Committee would be reviewing the performance data for GetWiS£ at its meeting in May 2014.

5.    The Task Group was asked by the Committee to consider how the early help and preventative agenda in Children’s Services was linked to addressing the impacts of welfare reform. The Committee discussed the role of the Family Support Programme in addressing some of the issues related to welfare reform, and it was commented by one Member that they would like to see the eligibility criteria and duration of intervention extended.

Recommendations:

·         That any Local Assistance Scheme funding left unallocated at the end of 2013/14 be rolled over into 2014/15 and be ring fenced and continue to be committed to supporting severely affected residents to manage the impact of welfare reform changes: subject to detailed proposals for allocation by the Task Group, a proportion of this funding to be targeted towards early intervention support, particularly aimed at improving money management skills and general financial awareness.

Actions/further information to be provided:

None.

Committee Next Steps:

The Welfare Reform Task Group will provide a final report at the meeting of the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 April 2014.