Meeting Details

PEP.43/22 CARLISLE WELFARE REFORM BOARD

An overview and update of the work of the Carlisle Welfare Reform Board was received the Panel (GD.58/22).The Chair welcomed the Mr Byrne, Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to the meeting.

Mr Byrne gave a verbal presentation covering: the background to the Welfare Reform Board; the partners involved in the Welfare Reform Board; the changes to benefits and the implementation of Universal Credit (UC); how the Welfare Reform Board fed into government policy and practice; and, the types of support the DWP provided to benefits claimants.

In considering the report and presentation, Members raised the following questions and comments:

- A Member congratulated Mr Byrne on the work of the Welfare Reform Board (WRB) and the DWP, she considered the focus on getting people into work helped to make society fairer.

Mr Byrne thanked the Member, he noted that job centre staff worked in a difficult environment. Some individuals had a sense of fear or resistance about attending the Job Centre, however, the role of the staff was to look at each individual's circumstances with view to providing the appropriate support to make being in work financially beneficial.

- Did drug culture and black market finance, for example loan sharks, interfere with efforts to get individuals into work?

Mr Byrne responded that such issues did affect and prevent people from being in work, the DWP worked with partners such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau and Unity drug and alcohol services to help address such matters for individuals. Such support was dependent on individuals notifying the Job Centre that they had such issues which some were reluctant to do.

The Chair noted the impact of debt on individual's mental health.

- Was the number of people classed as 'economically inactive' static or had it risen following the Covid 19 pandemic and was there a profile for individuals in that category?

Mr Byrne advised that the Local Enterprise Partnership was seeking to develop a profile and that the Cumbria Intelligence Observatory was assessing why those individuals were no longer economically active. The pandemic had increased the numbers, with poor physical or mental health often being a cause of people ceasing to be economically active as was childcare concerns, however, further research was needed to understand the full extent of the issue.

- Was there a database of volunteering opportunities?

Mr Byrne confirmed that there was. He advised that there were currently 160 work experience opportunities in the district a significant portion of which were in the third sector which was a large employer in the district. Work experience was particularly valuable for young people as it provided both experience and a reference for those who participate. Mr Byrne described a number of individual cases where following participation in work experience placements, employment had been secured.

Mr Byrne indicated he would welcome a recommendation to promote Job Centre Services and encouragement to other employers to take advantage of its recruitment support tools.

The Chair responded that it may be useful to also take the matter up with the Local Enterprise Partnership.

- Would the Welfare Reform Board look to integrate with the new Cumberland Council?

Mr Byrne responded that the DWP would welcome a wider remit. Given the variety of issue across the different areas of Cumberland it was be useful to retain focus on individual areas. The DWP had recently developed a place based strategy for Carlisle.

The Chair asked who would be responsible for deciding whether the WRB were to continue?

Mr Byrne advised that the Council would decide whether the Board would continue.

The Chair thanked Mr Byrne for his presentation.

RESOLVED - That the Panel ask Officers to consider the future model for the Welfare Reform Board in light of Local Government Reorganisation.