Issue - meetings

The report seeks agreement for the provision of cost-effective resilience for Brent’s Benefits Service against peaks in workload and staff turnover during a period of potential instability caused by the rollout of the full Universal Credit service, due to start in November.

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet gave authority to permit a third party service provider to make decisions relating to Housing Benefit (HB), Council Tax Benefit (CTB) and Council Tax Support (CTS) claims and associated Council Tax matters concerning discounts and liability, for the purposes set out within this report where the appropriate approvals have been obtained in compliance with Council standing orders and financial regulations; and

(ii)          Cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member to authorise a third party service provider to make decisions relating to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Support claims and associated Council Tax matters concerning discounts and liability for any other specific and ad-hoc purposes that may arise subsequent to the circumstances set out within this report subject to the appropriate approvals being obtained in compliance with Council standing orders and financial regulations. 

Councillor Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, introduced the report seeking agreement for the provision of cost-effective resilience for Brent’s Benefits Service against peaks in workload and staff turnover during a period of potential instability caused by the rollout of the full Universal Credit service, due to start in November.

Councillor Southwood stated that this will enable a small proportion of benefits work to be undertaken by a third party, which will mitigate the risk of the Service not being able to respond to demand, and ensure that residents get benefit decisions in a timely way.  Cabinet was therefore asked to authorise for decisions on Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Support claims to be made by a third party service provider within the scope of the recommendations set out in Section 2.0 below and as further set out within this report. 

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet gave authority to permit a third party service provider to make decisions relating to Housing Benefit (HB), Council Tax Benefit (CTB) and Council Tax Support (CTS) claims and associated Council Tax matters concerning discounts and liability, for the purposes set out within this report where the appropriate approvals have been obtained in compliance with Council standing orders and financial regulations; and

(ii)          Cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Lead Member to authorise a third party service provider to make decisions relating to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Support claims and associated Council Tax matters concerning discounts and liability for any other specific and ad-hoc purposes that may arise subsequent to the circumstances set out within this report subject to the appropriate approvals being obtained in compliance with Council standing orders and financial regulations.