Agenda item - Housing Management Performance Report - Quarter 2 2018 / 19

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Agenda item

Housing Management Performance Report - Quarter 2 2018 / 19

Minutes:

49.1    Justine Harris introduced the report and confirmed that the key performance         indicators on p.59 should be on the front page. Justine asked residents for their input on the presentation of the report and whether they would like this information in a different format in the future.

 

49.2    The Chair asked if the statistics used on page 36 were from before or after the time that Universal Credit was introduced.  Justine Harris stated that 40 per cent of tenants in rent arrears were claiming Universal Credit and she confirmed that there were now ten Support Officers who were assisting tenants with Universal Credit arrears problems.

 

49.3    Alan Cooke stated that the problem with Universal Credit was that tenants had to pay rent themselves out of their benefit and it was easy to get into arrears when the Universal Credit payments were delayed.  Janet Gearing confirmed that often rent might be the last priority for families at times such as Christmas, and she hoped that these claimants would not get penalised for late payments.

 

49.4    Councillor Platts stated that a young mother in her Ward who had accrued debt problems due to the delay in receiving Universal Credit, now found that her credit history was affected. Councillor Platts confirmed that the local Credit Union, based at Hove Town Hall was a place where residents could access loans at a better rate, and         that this information should be publicised in the Homing In magazine.  Janet Gearing said that she had been unaware of the Credit Union and that this was probably a much better alternative to payday loans for many residents.  The Chair suggested that the Credit Union could be invited to speak at resident meetings about the services they offered.  Councillor Platts confirmed that she would find out more about Universal Credit claimants and rent arrears and report back on this.  Hilary Edgar confirmed that information on the Credit Union could be submitted to a future issue of Homing In.

 

49.5    RESOLVED – That the Panel agreed to note the report.

 

Supporting documents:

 


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