Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and the Head of Housing and Health providing an update on the corrective measures completed and next steps in order to rectify an identified historic rent setting error.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and the Head of Housing & Health providing an update on the corrective measures completed and next steps in order to rectify an identified historic rent setting error.

The contents of the report were outlined with particular reference to the following:

·       A brief summary of the historic background to the report.

·       There had been progress since the issue was last reported to the Group. A significant amount of chasing had been undertaken with affected tenants but not everybody wanted to engage with the Council where refunds have been offered.

·       All and non-benefit Housing Benefit claims for live tenancies had now been processed.

·       The Council was reliant on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to assist with various tenant calculations and this was proving extremely complicated. At the moment there was a large cohort where the claims could of Universal Credit claimants where the refunds could not be processed due to individual complications and these tenants were being encouraged to engage directly with the DWP.

·       The Council was not the only housing provider in this situation.

·       The work of the Rent Recovery Team had ensured that the Council was ahead of the game where it could be.

Consideration was given to:

·       Concern that Universal Credit claimants were being kept in the loop. It was confirmed that all affected tenants had been written to.

·       The Council had no legal right to know what benefits a tenant received.

·       The Council had not received any complaints so far from tenants, they understood that the Council was waiting for the DWP.

·       It was confirmed that the resources to support this work would continue until the process was complete.

·       Advice was being provided to other local authorities who were experiencing the same issues.

·       The team were confident nobody had been unjustly evicted as a result of this issue.

Note: * Report previously considered.