Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance and Assets (copy enclosed) seeking approval of a new policy dealing with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction new claims and changes in circumstances.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the revised ‘Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme Telephone Recording Policy’ as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report seeking approval of a new policy dealing with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction new claims and changes in circumstances.

The Council’s investment in a new telephony system with call recording capabilities would enable the authority to offer a new telephone assisted claims service for residents.  The new approach to claims handling would offer an additional choice to customers to claim benefits or report changes, speed up the claims process, and would likely reduce the number of fraudulent claims.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the revised ‘Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme Telephone Recording Policy’ as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

[Councillor Eryl Williams abstained from voting on the above resolution.]