Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Council highlights adverse impact of UK welfare changes

27th October 2011

Highland Councillors have voiced their grave concerns at "Draconian" changes in welfare payments planned by the UK Government through the Welfare Reform Bill.

Councillors David Chisholm (Dingwall and Seaforth) and Bill Barclay (Black Isle) successfully presented a motion to the Council requesting that a letter be sent to the Scottish Government asking them to refuse to legislate on those aspects of the Bill which relate to devolved matters.

The Councillors believe the Bill will have an "enormously negative impact on local authorities and the vulnerable in our communities".

Councillor Chisholm said: "The Welfare Reform Bill will have a huge impact on people and services in Scotland. For many people, particularly families, those with disabilities, and jobseekers, the impact will be very damaging.

"An estimated £2 billion will be taken out of the local economy in Scotland during the lifetime of this parliament, with an estimated £1 billion taken from disabled people and their families.

"People with disabilities face the biggest impact from the proposed reforms. National reassessments for sickness and disability benefits, alongside cuts in public services, will inevitably mean that many people will not receive the support to deal with their disabilities that they currently rely upon.

"Public and voluntary services will need to pick up the pieces, in terms of homelessness, worsening health, and cuts in support. However, these services are experiencing cuts themselves, so many people will face a double blow of cuts in benefits and services.

"The Welfare Reform Bill will devolve aspects of the welfare system to Scotland, including Council Tax Benefit and parts of the Social Fund. This will have a significant impact on the way that public services operate."

The Council is to ask the other 31 local councils to follow the stance taken in the Highlands and to engage with the UK and Scottish Governments to highlight the potential loss of benefits to the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

20/4/2024
The Axe Falls As Highland Council Management Restructures To Save £310,000Thumbnail for article : The Axe Falls  As Highland Council Management Restructures To Save £310,000
As intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is to be implemented following approval by Council 14th March.  It reconfigures the senior management team into two layers, rather than three and brings Highland Council into line with other benchmarked authorities.  
16/4/2024
Apprenticeships Offer Earning Opportunities Alongside Learning In Refurbishment Of Historic ParkThumbnail for article : Apprenticeships Offer Earning Opportunities Alongside Learning In Refurbishment Of Historic Park
Today, Morrison Construction introduced some of their local apprentices who are working on the UK Governments' Levelling Up Funded refurbishment project at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness.  All these apprentices have been recruited from the Highland area.  
13/4/2024
Independent Candidate Wins Inverness South Bi-electionThumbnail for article : Independent Candidate Wins Inverness South Bi-election
The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 19 - Inverness South on The Highland Council has been won by Duncan Cameron McDonald - Independent who was one of the eight candidates who contested the vacancy.   Voters in the ward went to the poll yesterday (Thursday 11 April) and the by-election count was held this morning in The Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness.  
10/4/2024
Technology Placement Programme In Highland
The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate.   The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate.  
3/4/2024
Council Announces Extra Digital Funding To Support Highland BusinessesThumbnail for article : Council Announces Extra Digital Funding To Support Highland Businesses
Following the success of its Business Digital Grant scheme launched last year, The Highland Council is delighted to announce further funding.  This is to help Highland companies access digital support alongside other business growth support.  
27/3/2024
Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen FlightsThumbnail for article : Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen Flights
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen.   The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.  
18/3/2024
Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying SoThumbnail for article : Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying So
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation.   The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.  
14/3/2024
Clarification On The Role Of MCR Pathways' Coordinators And Mentors In Highland Schools
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme.   Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.  
15/3/2024
Council Agrees A New Draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan.   The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.  
15/3/2024
Members agree Highland Council's new Community Wealth Building Strategy
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy.   They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.