Report To:	Housing Portfolio Holder	18 March 2015
Lead Officer:	Director of Housing

Community Impact Statement and associated actions

Purpose

To seek approval for the Community Impact Statement and associated actions. The purpose of the Community Impact Statement is to set out how the Affordable Homes Service has a beneficial impact on communities; improving the lives, opportunities and the well being of not just the Council’s tenants and leaseholders but the wider community.

This is not a key decision.

Recommendations

That the Housing Portfolio approves;

The Community Impact Statement (Appendix A)

The Financial Inclusion Strategy (Appendix B)

A one off £10,000 contribution to the Rainbow Anglia Credit Union (Appendix D) in line with Financial Inclusion Strategy

The Digital Inclusion Strategy (Appendix C)

The in principle appointment of a fixed term post to help deliver the Digital Inclusion Strategy action plan.

Reasons for recommendations

The Financial Inclusion Strategy will help to support tenants and to mitigate some of the negative impacts associated with welfare reforms. The payment to Rainbow Anglia Credit Union will help to support a key partner in promoting financial stability for those tenants without mainstream bank accounts. The Digital Inclusion Strategy will assist tenants to get the most of their housing service and will also help them to maximise their incomes at a time when welfare benefits are becoming ‘digital by default’. A full time fixed term post is required to ensure that the work required to take forward the Digital Inclusion action plan is properly resourced.

Background

The Affordable Homes Service Plan 2014/15 identified a need to develop services to help support Digital and Financial inclusion and to adopt a Community Impact Statement, which will help us monitor and measure the social impact of delivering our services across the district.

This in part helps to address one of the key items on the Corporate Risk Register associated with monitoring and mitigating the impacts of welfare reforms. The Government has announced that for a number of welfare benefits there will be a ‘digital by default' assumption requiring people to apply for their benefits online. Allied to this is an assumption that people have bank accounts into which benefits can be paid and withdrawn.

Considerations

Surveys of tenants have shown that not everyone is currently able to access the internet and there are also tenants without access to bank accounts. To support these tenants and to ensure that they are able to maximise their incomes and be able to pay their rent these twin matters need to be addressed.

Improving tenants’ access to digital information sources will also allow the Council to improve the efficiency of the service we run over time.

The work undertaken during 2014 on establishing a value for money framework for affordable homes and the new style service plan which includes an assessment of social value, has highlighted the impact of housing services on the wider community. Some of these help to address non housing aspects of the Corporate Plan and the Community Impact Statement helps to clearly articulate these benefits.

Options

The Portfolio Holder may choose to not approve the Financial Inclusion Strategy and the associated payment to the Credit Union. See risk below.

The Portfolio Holder may choose not to approve the Digital Inclusion Strategy and the associated appointment of a fixed term post. See Risk below.

Implications

In relation to the funding of the local Credit Union, The Council’s Procurement Officer has proposed that a senior officer/authorised signatory complete a ‘Contract Regulations Exemption Request Form’ which will be completed prior to the payment being made.

In relation to the Digital Inclusion Strategy the successful delivery of this strategy will require the recruitment to a new post (two year fixed term contract) which will be funded through existing HRA resources.

Financial

The proposal to recruit a temporary officer would be funded out of the HRA. The cost of this post would be offset by savings made elsewhere in the staffing budget.

There is a proposed £10,000 contribution to the Credit Union. The benefits of supporting this partnership provide good value for money.

Legal

None

Staffing

The Digital Inclusion Strategy requires the appointment of one temporary officer subject to the usual EMT approval.

Risk Management

The Digital Inclusion Strategy is aimed at ensuring that tenants are not disadvantaged by lack of access to the internet. This is increasingly important particularly as the Government has announced a ‘digital by default approach at claiming some benefits. The risk to the Council of not addressing this is increased rent arrears.

The risk of not supporting tenants to have access to financial services is also that there will be an increase in rent arrears.

Equality and Diversity

Equality Impact Assessments have been carried out in relation to the adoption of the proposed new strategies.

Consultations (including the Youth Council)

The Tenant Participation Group has been involved in discussions regarding the Credit Union and actions to promote digital and financial inclusion as part of the Service Plan 2014/15 actions.

Effect on Strategic Aims

These proposals make a positive contribution to the following Council objectives:

Wellbeing – objective 10 - Ensure that the impact of Welfare Reforms are managed smoothly and effectively.

Engagement – objective 4 – Work with tenants, parish councils and community groups to sustain successful, vibrant villages.

Partnerships – objective 6 – Ensure best use of Council assets and benefit from opportunities to achieve efficiencies from partnership working.

Conclusions / Summary

The Community Impact Statement highlights the importance of the work of Affordable Homes to the whole community and not just the tenants. The proposed strategies are intended to support tenants and to maintain the high levels of rent collection achieved by the Council.

Background Papers

27.	The following background papers were used in the preparation of this report:	None.

Contact Officer:	Peter Moston – Resident Involvement Team Leader

Telephone: 01954 713037