Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Panel noted apologies from Councillor McEwing.  In addition the Panel noted that Councillors Parnell and Turner were in attendance as nominated substitutes for Councillors Claisse and Vinson, respectively, in accordance with Procedure Rule 4.3.

Members are invited to declare any prior participation in any decision taken by a Committee, Sub-Committee, or Panel of the Council on the agenda and being scrutinised at this meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting on 25^th October, 2012 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Panel meeting on 25^th October, 2012 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Senior Manager, Customer and Business Improvement giving details of the presentations that will be given at the second meeting of the Inquiry, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Senior Manager, Customer and Business Improvement outline the presentations that would receive at the meeting.

Deven Ghelani from The Centre for Social Justice gave a brief outline of his background and how he became involved in the universal credit.

He showed the Panel the “ready reckoner” that he had published on the web which allowed people to put in their information to see what they were likely to be entitled to under the universal credit scheme.  It allowed people to see what a difference there would be in their household income if they were to start working.

Concerns were raised about the implementation of the new scheme and the effects that it could have on some people/ families.

Deven stated that there would be challenges, as there were with most major changes, however he believed that this was the right way forward and in would be important to ensure that the implantation was right and those people that needed support received it.

He said that it was his view that the localisation of council tax support should not have occurred as this was moving away from the concept of having something universal.

He said that the new system would offer support and incentives to those that wanted to get back to work.  And that there would be conditions attached to working aged people claiming that meant they would have to be actively looking for employment.