Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Kuldeep Lakhmana substitute Cllr Phoday Jarjussey.

None.

The minutes of 22 March 2012 were agreed as an accurate record.

All items were considered in Part 1

The second witness session for the review examined population flows in Hillingdon from a local, Hillingdon perspective. The following officers attended the meeting and provided their views:

• April Southern, Housing Benefits Manager, Social Care, Health and Housing
• Emma Humphrey, Housing Needs Manager, Social Care, Health and Housing
• Anna Crispin, Chief Education Officer, PEECS.

The following points were noted:

Housing Benefit Information

Effects of April 2011 Local Housing Allowance changes

• From April 2011 restricting rents to 30^th percentile of rent market had a clear and immediate effect on rental payments.
• In monetary terms the households feeling the greatest impact are 5 bed need claimants as these are also restricted to 4 bed rate (based on claim start date vs. April 2012 LHA rate). 
• Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates reduced in April 2011 to 30^th rather than 50^th percentile of market rents.
• LHA rates have been increasing over the last year, with rates for 2 and 3 beds now equal to, or higher than the rate in March 2011.
• From April 2012 LHA rates have been set for 12 months. 

Transitional Protection

Current cases affected

• Claims made prior to April 2011 receive transitional protection for nine months after they anniversary date. 
• There are currently 2410 receiving transitional protection and depending on when the claim was initially made transitional protection will end between January and December this year.
• There are currently no 5 bed households receiving transitional protection as rents charged were similar to new LHA figures.  However, all new claims from April 2011 were restricted to 4 bed rate.
• Due to LHA rate rises since April 2011 58% of cases currently receiving transitional protection (TP) will not face a loss when TP ends. 
• There are currently 10 households that will face a loss of over £100 per week - 2 of these are large households with 9 family members.  Of those losing £50 - £100 - 5 are large households with families of 7 to 10 members.   
• An overall cap for bedroom size was also introduced in April 2011.  A total of 113 cases are affected.

Payments and Cases

• Local Housing Allowance was introduced for Private Rented Sector claims in April 2011.
• Overall Housing Benefit payments to claimants have increased by £34,318,502 or 32.97%, from £104,094,256 in 2007/08 to £138,412,762 in 2011/12.
• Temporary Accommodation is the only area (by tenure) to reduce claimant payments; payments to residents in temporary accommodation have reduced by £14,969,010 or 61.31%, from £24,412,552 to £9,443,542.
• Rent Allowance payments to Private rented sector and Registered Social Housing claims increased by £45,768,858 or 89% from £51,322,652 to £97,091,510. 
• Between March 2008 and March 2012 Private rented sector and Registered Social Housing cases increased by 5,108 (63.52%), from 8,041 to 13,149. 
• The main increase is in the private rented sector, an increase of 3,837 or 84% since 2007/08.
• The decline in payments to claimants in Temporary Accommodation reflects the continued reduction in the use of temporary accommodation by L.B.
• Hillingdon, -229 households in temporary accommodation over the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Head of Commissioning introduced a briefing note on Cabinet Item Cabinet Item 668 - Contract Award: Framework Agreement for support planning and brokerage which had been circulated outside the meeting.

Resolved –

That the report be noted

This is a standard item.

Resolved –

That the timetable of meetings and proposed work programme for 2011/12 be noted