Bedroom Tax - who will it hurt most?

Yesterday I moved a motion in ERYC Chambers and this is what I said:

That this Council will not levy residents in council housing for under occupied properties if they have applied for a move to a property suitable for their requirements and the Council is unable to provide that property

This motion is not a debate about the rights or wrongs of National Policies but what we as a Council will decide in the interest of fairness for our residents who live in council properties and are on Housing Benefit.

The Welfare Reform Act gives the Government the power to introduce new size criteria (also known as ‘under-occupation penalty’ or ‘Bedroom Tax’) for housing benefit claims in the social rented sector. The criteria will mean that any working-age household deemed to be under-occupying their home will lose part of their housing benefit from April 2013.

 The size criteria in the social rented sector will restrict housing benefit to allow for one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household

Any household deemed to have more bedrooms than they require, as defined by the criteria, will lose a proportion of their housing benefit.

Examples of households who could be affected by the measure include:

Separated parents who share the care of their children and who may have been allocated an extra bedroom to reflect this. Benefit rules mean that there must be a designated ‘main carer’ for children, who receives the extra benefit

Foster carers because foster children are not counted as part of the household for benefit purposes

Parents whose children visit but are not part of the household eg members of the Armed Services

Families with disabled children

Disabled people including people living in adapted or specially designed properties. 

One “extra” bedroom under this inflexible scheme will mean a loss of 14% of housing benefit. 2 “extra” bedrooms will mean a loss of 25% of Housing benefit.

The funding provided by the Government for Discretionary Housing Payments is £374,000. It is estimated that the 1,200 council properties which are under occupied according to the social sector size criteria will in total lose an estimated £776,000 in housing benefit per annum. Therefore, the estimated shortfall between the Government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments and potential claims arising as a consequence of the social sector size criteria is over £400,000.

However, the estimated loss in housing benefit does not include the estimated  300 housing association properties in the East Riding which are deemed to be under occupied. These will also lose housing benefit but we as a Council do not have data on how much housing benefit is currently paid to these properties.

DHP money is also used to help tenants in private rented accommodation meet rent costs following a reduction in income, job loss, distress etc. So it cannot be assumed that all £374,000 would be available to help those in the social sector.

 

It is estimated that there will be a possible 100 affordable properties leaving a shortfall of 1100.

Our tenants will have to choose between leaving their homes and communities or face paying the difference. Those who make the choice of downsizing may not actually have that option as a suitable property may not be available.

I asked the Councillors in the chamber to support the motion but they decided to put forward  an amendment that offered "sympathy and "support" but nothing else. We could have put up to 2.5 times the amount in the DHP but choose not to. The Tories and Lib Dems voted for the motion which of course was passed.  The Labour Group voted against as we wanted more for our residents who will be put in inpossible situations.

This motion was seconded by Cllr Keith Moore who argued:

 “Although the intention behind this introduction of this bill was to save money many commentators predict it will generate costs rather than savings.  I believe this Council and the taxpayer stand to be worse off as our tenants are forced into the private rented sector”

 

 

Council Tax Benefits ERYC

Council Tax Benefit

 

Council tax benefit is a means tested benefit that helps people with low or no income to pay their council tax.

Council tax benefit is being abolished by the government on 1 April 2013. It is to be replaced with a local council tax support scheme. The responsibility for designing local schemes is to be passed to each local authority in England.

 

The effects can be seen below with the Options showing the lost revenue to the Bridlington Economy.  Money that would be spent here will be paid to ERYC if Option 2 or 3 are adopted.  This is not just about taking money from the poorest in society but making Bridlington pay nearly 25% of the shortfall.  This will effect our businesses.

 

Working Age CTB Claimants by Ward
Row Labels	Households
Beverley Rural Ward	187	1.62%	Bridlington	2870	24.90%
Bridlington Central and Old Town Ward	847	7.35%
Bridlington North Ward	442	3.84%	Lost revenue in Bridlington		Option 1	Nil
Bridlington South Ward	1581	13.72%	Average £250 per household		Option 2	£717,500.00
Cottingham North Ward	159	1.38%	Average £500 per household		Option 3	£1,435,000.00
Cottingham South Ward	305	2.65%
Dale Ward	222	1.93%
Driffield and Rural Ward	535	4.64%
East Wolds and Coastal Ward	401	3.48%
Goole North Ward	454	3.94%
Goole South Ward	862	7.48%
Hessle Ward	521	4.52%
Howden Ward	121	1.05%
Howdenshire Ward	287	2.49%
Mid Holderness Ward	321	2.79%
Minster and Woodmansey Ward	682	5.92%
North Holderness Ward	438	3.80%
Pocklington Provincial Ward	329	2.85%
Snaith| Airmyn| Rawcliffe and Marshland Ward	239	2.07%
South East Holderness Ward	849	7.37%
South Hunsley Ward	99	0.86%
South West Holderness Ward	438	3.80%
St. Mary's Ward	436	3.78%
Tranby Ward	335	2.91%
Willerby and Kirk Ella Ward	141	1.22%
Wolds Weighton Ward	294	2.55%
Grand Total	11525	100.00%

 



Being a "Corporate Parent"

When I was elected on to East Riding of Yorkshire Council I was not prepared for the variety of duties I would perform. Committees, Review Panels (4 to date) ,Boards, being a Chair a a Community Partnership and a Corporate Parent. Visiting Childrens' homes is one of the duties I perform; talking to staff and looked after children.  Attending events like today also allows me to engage with the young people in a positive way.  The event today was billed as How to Get a Job and Keep it - I can You can.  I had a  look at what was in store for us but was not prepared for the really inspiring speaker having never heard of him before. Richard McCann set the scene wonderfully and despite problems with the mic just kept going. As a fellow ginger I can remember feeling a little out of place in Leeds like him - carrot top to my friends until I learned to like my individuality. Events in his life were harrowing at times - hard to comprehend but delivered in a manner that made you want the next stage to go well.  His white tower I well remember (Leeds Uni or polytec as it was in my day). The Yorkshire Ripper murders and the beared Suttcliffe brought back memories of my Dad being interviewed and cleared (Irish name and blue landrover put him in the frame). Time spent in Germany and Berlin wall - I was there then too. His spiral into drugs and prison showed the young people how easy that can happen (no parallel for me there but grew up near Armley Jail). Oh and I did my OU Summer School at Durham University which he attended!  Finally his books, marriage and children made you feel that despite everything that life throws at you - YOU CAN.

One day that I felt was well spent and look forward to working on the ERYC Reducing Re-Offending Review Panel and speaking to Richard about the work he does in prisons.

My FB entry today

Interesting day as a Corporate Parent. Spending time with LAC and listening to http://www.richardmccann.co.uk/ he really did engage with adults and young people this morning. Looking forward to working with in the future.

Inspirational Speaker, Motivational Speaker, No1 Bestselling Author, Inspirational Speaker

www.richardmccann.co.uk

Motivational Speaker, No1 Bestselling Author, Inspirational Speaker

Response to The Chancellor's Speech #ACon12

Employee Ownership doesn’t mean reducing workers rights

October 2012

 

Monday 8 October - EOA/PR/081012
Commenting on today’s announcement that employees will be encouraged to exchange workplace rights for shares and company equity, made by Chancellor Rt Hon George Osborne MP at the Conservative Party annual Conference in Birmingham, Employee Ownership Association Chief Executive Iain Hasdell said:

“We welcome this latest contribution to the debate on employee ownership, but whilst growing employee ownership should be part of the UK’s Industrial Policy, such growth does not require a dilution of the rights and working conditions of employees – indeed employee ownership often enhances them.
“Ownership matters. Employee ownership, creating businesses whose employees have significant ownership and involvement, offers a brilliant mechanism to spread business ownership from the few to the many whilst increasing productivity and innovation.”

New research shows that job security, job satisfaction, and productivity are significantly higher in employee owned businesses compared to traditional companies surveyed by the national Workplace Employee Relations Survey.

Council Tax Benefit Cuts - Labour Group Press Release

East Riding Labour Group

 

East Riding Labour Group reacted angrily today at the full East Riding of Yorkshire Council meeting in Beverley when their calls to protect low paid workers in the East Riding boundary from proposed reduction in council tax benefit that will hit 11,525 low paid households within the county.

 This is following central government cuts to the ER of £2.6m.  The Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Pat O’Neil, Goole South Ward moved the Motion calling upon the Council to follow the example of Tory Councils in the Prime Ministers constituency and find the necessary savings from the council budget.

In seconding the Labour Motion the Lab Group’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Keith Moore, Goole North said “These proposals are designed to hit yet again those low paid workers who are in pay freezes and are on such low pay they rely on these benefits for a living wage.

 Cllr Pat O’Neil added “the social injustice of this policy will be all the greater as on the same day the top rate of tax for high earners will be cut from 50p to 45p which equates to a tax break of £40,000 a year for this and future years.

 The cost and inconvenience of collecting small sums from those without the ability to pay is likely to make the whole thing unworkable. And many of those households effected are in the wards of Tory councillors and in the most deprived wards in the East Riding.

 The Labour Group stood alone in the defence of low paid workers within this Authority’s boundary receiving no support from any other group.

3 October 2012

JP4PCC - The Complete Package

Why I am Backing John Prescott

Following an excellent Hustling in Beverley yesterday I made my choice for the Labour candidate for PCC. Both candidates gave a good 5 minute introduction, letting the audience know, their background, strengths and expectation of the role. The Question and Answer session allowed party members to size up the candidates and question their knowledge of not just the role but of what Labour Party values will bring to it. A core central theme was about accountability to the communities and giving them a greater say. As the newly elected Chair of the Bridlington & Driffield Community Partnership this struck a chord with me. Going out into the community with the Partners and listening to what matters most to people and their quality of life is vital to the PCC role.

Privatisation of the Police Force was also a strong theme of the discussion. Like the NHS, the Labour Party, supports the many hardworking and committed police officers. To hand over this valued service to profit making companies would be abhorrent, wrong and dangerous.

Whilst much was made of new ideas on how policing should be shaped in the future it sometimes just boils down to engagement with the people that the police serve. A bottom up approach rather than a top down approach will give communities a greater voice.

Each of the candidates has different strengths and also the same strengths in some areas. Both are more than capable of being an excellent PCC.  The key question that I had to ask myself was, “Who has the best chance of winning for Labour.”  The real test will not be at Hustings or even the vote for our candidate; it will be in November. The 5 pledges that John put forward will allow the public, who will ultimately make the choice, the opportunity to understand what he will bring to the role.  Coupled with that is a high profile and a wonderful ability to engage, get his message across and win support.

I am a hard nut to crack when it comes to supporting someone but I am also a pragmatist. The right candidate will win this and that candidate is John Prescott #jp4pcc

John Prescott’s 5 Pledges which I fully support

1. Keep our police force public, more accountable and observing national standards with total opposition to the privatisation of front line services.

2. Give the community a greater say in the drafting of the new five-year Police and Crime plan. This shouldn’t be left to those who think they know best.

3. Greater co-ordination between the community, local partnerships, neighbourhood watch groups, the police and probation officers to reduce crime.

4. Better support for the victims of crime, giving them more of a say in how criminals should pay back to society through community service.

5. Be a strong public voice for our police force and community at a national and Parliamentary level. I will be a full-time and local Commissioner, decentralising power and holding regular police surgeries with the public across the region.

Early Day Motion Caravan Tax

VAT ON STATIC HOLIDAY CARAVANS Mr Graham Stuart That this House recognises that the static caravan and associated industries make a significant contribution to the UK economy; notes that more than 3 million trips were taken in owned caravans in 2010, contributing £334 million to UK tourism particularly in rural and coastal areas; notes that UK static caravan manufacturers make more than 95% of those sold in the UK; notes that more than 7,000 people work directly for manufacturers and suppliers in addition to 26,500 employed directly by holiday parks; notes that the sale of static caravans is an important element in the survival of holiday parks; notes that the Government estimates the imposition of VAT on static holiday caravans will reduce demand by 30%; is concerned that such a tax would have a devastating effect on jobs, on UK tourism, on investment and on growth; and therefore calls on the Government to reject plans for a static holiday caravan VAT change.