Carmarthenshire County Council Overspends on Housing Payments by £32,917

Strategic Insights -

Carmarthenshire County Council has faced criticism for overspending its allocated budget for supporting people with housing costs by tens of thousands of pounds. According to new figures, the council spent £301,241 on Discretionary Housing Payments in the year to March, which was £32,917 more than its allocation of £268,324. This represents a 12% overspend, with the council allowed to top up this funding up to a maximum of two and a half times their allocation using their own funds.

Key Takeaways:

  • Carmarthenshire County Council overspent its allocated budget for Discretionary Housing Payments by £32,917, or 12%, in the year to March.
  • The council spent £301,241 on DHPs, with £268,324 received from the Government, leaving a shortfall of £32,917.
  • The Government provided £100m to councils to make DHPs, and local authorities are allowed to top up this funding up to two and a half times their allocation.
  • Across England and Wales, councils spent 107% of the total allocation for DHPs, with 61% of expenditure attributed to welfare reform, particularly the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy.
  • Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, called for Local Housing Allowance to be unfrozen to cover "at least the bottom third of local rents" and for the construction of more genuinely affordable social rent homes.
  • David Fothergill, chair of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, called for the DHA to be brought in line with the Household Support Fund and for local government to be fully reimbursed for support provided.

Statistics:

  • £301,241 was spent on Discretionary Housing Payments in Carmarthenshire County Council in the year to March.
  • £32,917 was overspent by the council on DHPs, representing a 12% increase.
  • £268,324 was received from the Government for DHPs, with the council topping up by £32,917.
  • 61% of DHP expenditure across England and Wales was attributed to welfare reform, particularly the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy.
  • 24% of DHP expenditure across England and Wales was attributed to the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy.
  • Across England and Wales, councils spent 107% of the total allocation for DHPs.
  • 18% of local authorities spent less than 95% of their allocated budget on DHPs.

Sources:

  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/topic/carmarthenshire-county-council
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/topic/shelter
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/topic/carmarthenshire
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/pembrokeshire-county-council-overspent-its-budget-for-housing-support-payments-by-more-than-ps10000-813675
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/community-news/mollys-dream-garden-aberglasney-announces-winner-of-childrens-art-and-poetry-competition-813064
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/carmarthenshire-council-launches-service-to-enhance-homes-and-estates-812281
  • https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/rent-in-carmarthenshire-rises-5-in-past-year-813257