The Head of Housing Services has submitted a report to seek approval to amend the current Discretionary Housing Payment Policy and to note the trends in expenditure detailed in the report.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the revised Discretionary Housing Payment Policy;

2.    Note the trends in expenditure detailed in the report; and

3.    Approve the use of the £223,729 described in paragraph 28 of the report as the first call against any forecast DHP overspend

The Head of Housing Services had submitted a report seeking approval to amend the current Discretionary Housing Payment Policy and  noting the trends in expenditure detailed in the report.

Cllr Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, introduced the report which made relatively minor changes to the policy. She noted that the Council’s approach of working closely with those in receipt of Discretionary Housing Payments to help them find sustainable means of improving their situation was both unique and welcome. Expenditure on the scheme exceeded the Government grant in 2020/21 for the second year in succession and mitigations were in place to address current and anticipated overspends.

James Pickering, Welfare Reform Manager, noted the importance of not relying on the Government grant given its great volatility in recent years.

The Council had written to the Secretary of State in April 2021 to express its concern about the consequences of the last reduction in grant. No reply had been received and it was agreed that this should be followed up.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Approve the revised Discretionary Housing Payment Policy;

2.    Note the trends in expenditure detailed in the report; and

3.    Approve the use of the £223,729 described in paragraph 28 of the report as the first call against any forecast DHP overspend