Agenda item

To consider the Council’s response to the Government’s consultation on ‘Pathways to Work’ (Green Paper attached).

 

Cllr Jules Crossley, Policy, Performance & Sustainability Portfolio Holder and Alex Shiell, Service Manager – Policy, Strategy and Transformation will be in attendance at the meeting to guide the discussion.

The Board welcomed Cllr Jules Crossley, Policy, Performance & Sustainability Portfolio Holder, who had been invited to attend to present this item.

 

The Board was advised that a consultation on the Pathways to Work Green Paper was currently underway. The proposed Pathways to Work changes would affect working-age adults in terms of a number of changes to benefits receivable. The Council was in the process of consulting with benefit recipients and had received 40 responses at that point. Of the 40 respondents, 80% had expected negative impacts from the proposed changes. Members were informed that a Pathways to Work Working Group had been set up and this group would look in detail at the survey responses and would discuss the contents of the Council’s response to the Green Paper consultation. It had been agreed that the Council would send a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Key points to be included in the letter would include:

 

·                    Lack of planning and forethought - the way the Green Paper was delivered has caused unnecessary anxiety

 

·                    The DWP must be reformed before any changes to benefits are introduced

 

·                    Employment and Training programme for young people needs to be embedded before benefit changes are made

 

·                    An Impact Assessment should have been commissioned and published before the Green Paper was released

 

·                    Personal Independence Payment is not a means-tested or a work-related benefit. Current proposals risk removing all support from those who don’t score 4 points on any one component.

 

·                    Poverty: Risk of people being pushed into poverty

 

·                    NHS waiting lists has contributed to the number of people who can’t work

 

·                    Impact on carers: If the person they care for loses PIP, they will no longer qualify for Carer’s Allowance

 

·                    Right to Try: A positive is that it will give people receiving health and disability benefits more freedom to attempt work without fear of losing their benefits.

 

·                    The lack of detail needs to be addressed in the White Paper, including clarification on the proposed new National Insurance scheme

 

·                    Increased pressure and impact on local authorities and support organisations

 

The letter would ask for a number of changes to the proposals, including:

 

·                    Keep PIP and UC uplift separate. PIP shouldn’t be used to push people into work

 

·                    Reform the DWP before making any changes

 

·                    Publish a full Impact Assessment before the White Paper, with transitional support in place

 

·                    Set out investment and reform plans for health services, including mental health, before changes happen

 

·                    Put people’s welfare before cost-cutting

 

It was also noted that the Council would need to rethink its Young People’s Plan and put all programmes into place before the benefits were removed.

 

The Board discussed this and made the following comments:

 

·                    Council should copy Aldershot MP, Alex Baker and the Swansea West MP into response

 

·                    Could the Council create more jobs to offer to people affected by these changes?

 

·                    Would be good to help with training and interview techniques

 

·                    Should Council encourage employers to offer more part-time positions, due to them tending to lead to better mental health outcomes?

 

·                    Ensure Rushmoor Accessibility Group fully engaged with process

 

The Chairman thanked Cllr Crossley for her report.

 

NOTE:

Under the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors, all Members are required to disclose relevant Interests in any matter to be considered at the meeting.  Where the matter directly relates to a Member’s Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Registrable Interest, that Member must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain in the room unless they have been granted a dispensation (see note below). If the matter directly relates to ‘Non-Registrable Interests’, the Member’s participation in the meeting will depend on the nature of the matter and whether it directly relates or affects their financial interest or well-being or that of a relative, friend  or close associate, applying the tests set out in the Code.

 

 

IN RELATION TO THIS ITEM:

On 10th June, 2025, the Council’s Interim Monitoring Officer and Corporate Manager – Legal Services granted dispensations to Cllr Jules Crossley and Lisa Greenway to present at this item despite each having a declarable interest.