The Pain is only just beginning

It's like the calm before the storm. But although it's not getting a lot of news coverage the Welfare Reform proposal will start to bite from 1st April and Councils like Bolsover need to start taking action now if their fine words about protecting communities are to be realised in practice.

Here's a question I've tabled for the Council meeting next Wednesday when we also have a lobby in opposition to the Morrisons scheme:

"In just 8 months time the most devastating attack on the poorest people in our lifetime will begin when social housing tenants, deemed to be under-occupying, will have their housing benefits cut as the Coalition government takes £2bn in a year from those on Housing Benefit to fund its tax cuts for the rich.

1.       What is Bolsover Council doing now to identify and assist its tenant who, through no fault of their own, will find they need to move to a smaller property?

2.       Have the Council told them what is happening?

3.       Will these tenants be given top priority banding under the letting system? and

4.       Having saved over £1m in borrowing costs this year will the Council be willing to offer them some financial assistance to meet some of the costs of moving?"