Council to provide more support for the vulnerable

Councillor Chris Penberthy has announced plans to provide an additional £200,000 to help residents that have been struggling to cope with this year’s welfare reform changes.

In a motion to Full Council yesterday (Monday 25 November) Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, warned that the Government’s Welfare Reform agenda was having a serious adverse effect on residents in the city.

He explained that families are getting behind in their rent, are struggling to pay their bills and can’t afford to buy food, stating that referral to the Plymouth Foodbank have gone up by 237 per cent this year compared with the same period the year before.

Plymouth Community Homes have also reported that rent arrears have increased by ten per cent since the ‘bedroom tax’ was introduced and demand for housing advice has increased by 52 per cent on last year.

He went on to say that debt in the city is increasing and that Advice Plymouth has reported to have dealt with £1.5 million of problem debt compared to £465,000 for the same period last year.

Councillor Penberthy’s motion calls for the council to welcome the announcement of a £200,000 package of support which is intended to include;

Funding to help people clear arrears if they need to downsize because of the Bedroom Tax, but are unable to do so because of their arrears
A package of proactive advice and support for the 642 people waiting to downsize
Support for the Foodbank
A new worker for Plymouth Energy Community to help people sort debt and enable them to switch to cheaper providers
A fund to incentivise people to save with a credit union.
Continuation of a specialist caseworker within Housing and Revenues & Benefits to identify and deal with problems early.
A fund to ensure people get Medical Assessments and DBS Checks when they need them to access benefits and get into work.
A feasibility study into the council providing of an ethical payday lending scheme.

Councillor Penberthy said: “Nobody should underestimate the magnitude of this problem. It is terrible that so many people in our city are in a position where they cannot afford to live. What must it feel like for a parent to not be heat their home or feed their children? It is abscene that in a developed, civilised country people are cold and hungry. Plymouth Labour Council is not prepared to just sit back and let it happen.”

This comes on top of plans to reduce the minimum amount of Council Tax people pay from 25 to 20 per cent which the Council are currently consulting with residents.

Residents can take part in the consultation at www.plymouth.gov.uk