Agenda item

The report will provide an update from Gateway regarding the impact of Universal Credit.

The Director of Gateway Services, Julia Pitt, and the Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services, Councillor Alison Butler, introduced the report and did a presentation for the Board.

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services gave an overview of Universal Credit and noted that the London Borough of Croydon was one of the pilot schemes for the enrolment in June 2015. She noted that when it was first introduced payments were delayed for up to 12 weeks; however, this had now been improved. This was mainly due to a high number of private landlords beginning to accept Universal Credit. It had a large financial and resource impact on Croydon Council and it had been difficult to retain staff; however, these problems were currently being scrutinised by Gateway Services.

The Enablement Service Manager, Paul Garlick, gave an overview of Gateway Services, the ongoing work and projects and challenges being faced. He noted that there were concerns for vulnerable patients receiving one large payment of benefits, especially when there were existing addiction problems. Universal Credit could also not be backdated which had been causing issues.

The Enablement Service Manager outlined the joint working slide in the presentation and noted that the partners were: Gateway Services, Social Services, Public Health, Housing, Collection Teams, Education, the Energy Team, and the external key partners were CABx (the Citizens Advice Bureaux) and JCP (Job Centre Plus). From 1 April 2019, it would be moved to CABx and the funding had been cut by the Government; Gateway Services staff were continuing their employment to assist with Universal Credit support due to this.

It was explained to the Board that the introduction of the Community Food Stop had helped retained 51 tenancies and 50 of these residents were now working full time. It was noted that the Community Food Stop was not a food bank, but provided fresh goods for an affordable price and also had access to support services regarding debt and poverty through Credit Union and information on immunisation was available.

In response to Councillor Hopley the Director of Gateway Services recognised that there could be improvement of communication to local Councillors concerning the available services and noted that Gateway Services would focus on liaising with the Health & Wellbeing Board further regarding this. She noted that there were currently discussions with local churches in the Coulsdon area regarding the introduction of another Community Food Stop. The Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services agreed with the concerns raised by Councillor Hopley and added that every ward had deprivation and urged Councillors to approach Gateway Services as soon as problems become apparent.

Councillor Avis thanked the officers and Cabinet Member for the presentation and noted that the work conducted by the Credit Union was very positive; however, they did not have the funding to advertise on a large scale. She suggested that the GPs could refer patients to Credit Union.

In response to Councillor Campbell the Enablement Service Manager noted that all staff members within Gateway Services had received mental health training. The Director of Gateway Services also responded and explained that there were assertive outreach workers within the community so those who were homeless did not have to attend appointments in the council offices. This work had been positive and as way of example, she explained that one woman had been homeless for 16 years and after the working with an outreach officer she was now in accommodation through Housing First.

The Croydon Health Services NHS Trust representative noted that the council needed to focus on the inequality for women as there was now a disadvantage with Universal Credit as child benefit was no longer available as a separate benefit. The Director of Gateway Services explained they worked closely with Public Health and welcomed the offer of training from the NHS Trust on contraception within different cultures. She added that there were issues with residents being unable to afford sanitary products and collection points within the council buildings had been introduced to provide products for those in need.

RESOLVED – That the Board agreed to:

1)    Note the approach of Gateway in tackling not only Universal Credit issues but all welfare reform challenges

2)    Note the take up campaigns Gateway were supporting across Resources, Public Health and Energy Officer.

3)    Note the joint working between Gateway and Public Health around food poverty action group and healthy start.