Agenda item

That the policy for Discretionary Housing Payments as set out in Appendix A be approved.

The Lead Member for Corporate Finance & Housing introduced a report that sought approval for the revised Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) policy 2019-20.

The policy aimed to support local people mainly affected by welfare payments by helping them maintain their home or find cheaper alternative accommodation.  The latest figures for 2018-19 showed that there had been 530 applications for support of which 321 had received an award.  The Council proposed to maintain spend within the current grant allocation from Government of £650,504.  The policy was reviewed annually and the proposed changes for 2019-20 were set out in paragraph 5.17 of the report.

After due consideration, the Cabinet agreed the policy for 2019-20.

Resolved –  That the policy for Discretionary Housing Payments as set out in Appendix A be approved.