Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Pat Williams

(1)  This Council notes that Universal Credit:

·  is being developed with a Pathfinder Service in the Greater Manchester area from April 2013

·  is being extended to people who need that help and support with the aim of completing the new service by the end of 2017

·  has been the subject of a House of Commons Select Committee Report and regular feature of ‘Parliamentary Questions’ on its impact and progress.

(2)  Council notes that on 10 December 2012, Mr Clive Betts MP questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions as follows….

‘What progress is the Department making in discussing with councils about the need to provide a joined-up service so that, in future, people will need make only one contact when their incomes change?’

and that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith) stated…

‘We are currently engaging in discussions with local authorities with the aim of ensuring that people receive a proper and comprehensive service.’

(3)  This Council is anxious that Wirral’s citizens involved in these changes should receive the ‘proper and comprehensive service’ being promised and believes that the Council’s One Stop Shops and libraries are well placed to assist local people.

(4)  Council, therefore, requests that officers continue to engage with other authorities and the Local Government Association with a view to ensuring that an effective and accessible service emerges from that process.

(5)  Council, therefore, requests that Officers be asked to report on the shape of the emerging service to Cabinet and the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee so that Wirral can provide the ‘proper and comprehensive service’ envisaged for Wirral’s citizens.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Bernie Mooney

Seconded by Councillor Tony Norbury

Add the following:

(6)  Council is concerned about a number of issues relating to universal credit. These include:

·  Digital exclusion, as claimants will have to complete a universal credit claim on line.

·  The danger that claimants will be unable to budget effectively when their benefits are paid at monthly rather than fortnightly intervals as at present.

·  Doubts about whether the new system will provide genuine incentives to work longer or train for a more highly paid job.

·  Doubts about the quality of the new IT infrastructure which is being designed to deliver universal credit.

·  Lack of openness on the outcome of the universal credit pilot schemes.

(7)  Council supports Frank Field’s call for the National Audit Office to carry out a special enquiry to examine the risks associated with universal credit.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

Councillor Gilchrist agreed to accept the amendment proposed by Councillor Mooney.

The Motion, as amended, was put and carried (42:20) (One abstention)

Resolved (42:20) (One abstention) –

(1)  This Council notes that Universal Credit:

·  is being developed with a Pathfinder Service in the Greater Manchester area from April 2013

·  is being extended to people who need that help and support with the aim of completing the new service by the end of 2017

·  has been the subject of a House of Commons Select Committee Report and regular feature of ‘Parliamentary Questions’ on its impact and progress.

(2)  Council notes that on 10 December 2012, Mr Clive Betts MP questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions as follows….

‘What progress is the Department making in discussing with councils about the need to provide a joined-up service so that, in future, people will need make only one contact when their incomes change?’

and that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith) stated…

‘We are currently engaging in discussions with local authorities with the aim of ensuring that people receive a proper and comprehensive service.’

(3)  This Council is anxious that Wirral’s citizens involved in these changes should receive the ‘proper and comprehensive service’ being promised and believes that the Council’s One Stop Shops and libraries are well placed to assist local people.

(4)  Council, therefore, requests that officers continue to engage with other authorities and the Local Government Association with a view to ensuring that an effective and accessible service emerges from that process.

(5)  Council, therefore, requests that Officers be asked to report on the shape of the emerging service to Cabinet and the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee so that Wirral can provide the ‘proper and comprehensive service’ envisaged for Wirral’s citizens.

(6)  Council is concerned about a number of issues relating to universal credit. These include:

·  Digital exclusion, as claimants will have to complete a universal credit claim on line.

·  The danger that claimants will be unable to budget effectively when their benefits are paid at monthly rather than fortnightly intervals as at present.

·  Doubts about whether the new system will provide genuine incentives to work longer or train for a more highly paid job.

·  Doubts about the quality of the new IT infrastructure which is being designed to deliver universal credit.

·  Lack of openness on the outcome of the universal credit pilot schemes.

(7)  Council supports Frank Field’s call for the National Audit Office to carry out a special enquiry to examine the risks associated with universal credit.