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Morning Briefing: civil servants’ concerns over Universal Credit roll-out
Channel 4 reports on concerns over Universal Credit and a thinktank has a bold idea to help millennials
In the news
The latest episode of Channel 4’s Dispatches series, aired last night, focused on the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Research for the programme found two in three staff working on the flagship welfare reform – which combines a number of working-age benefits into a single payment – think it should be paused.
The programme raised concerns about staff shortages and timeliness of payments. The Department for Work and Pensions described the survey, of 550 union members, as “small, self-selected and flawed”. Here is the Mirror’s report on the programme and research findings.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called for housing and health to be more joined up. The i newspaper published a piece about this over the bank holiday weekend. Mr Burnham has also previously called for Manchester to get its own welfare budget.
Labour MP Ann Coffey has accused ministers of breaking a promise to cut the number of children placed in care homes out-of-borough, the BBC reports this morning.
Also over the weekend, the Sunday Times published a report about Grenfell Tower still not being shrouded 11 months after the fire. Meanwhile, singer Lily Allen is reportedly still insisting that more people died in the fatal fire than has been reported.
The Guardian this morning is reporting an idea from Resolution Foundation to tackle the housing affordability generation gap. The thinktank suggests everybody should receive a £10,000 payment on their 25th birthday.
A Welsh assembly member has said rough sleepers in Cardiff city centre are making a “lifestyle choice” and have rejected offers of support, the BBC reports.
In Northern Ireland, website Belfast Live reports the Northern Ireland Housing Executive wants to decommission tower blocks but has not yet produced a plan to do so.
The Birmingham Mail has a report on an elderly resident being trapped in a lift in a block managed by housing association Optivo, which has reportedly apologised.
The Maidenhead Advertiser has an item about a local authority reportedly not spending Section 106 monies quickly enough.
The Evening Standard has reported findings of research showing tenants spend £300m a year on repairs their landlords fail to carry out. It is not clear from the report how robust the research is, and it is worth noting that it was commissioned by a firm that provides serviced apartments.
Finally, Buzzfeed is reporting that men are sleeping in gay saunas because of the housing crisis.
On social media
G15 chief executive Paul Hackett has tweeted his support for changing the way green belt is designated.
The @G15London support @Siobhain_MP proposal to reform #NPPF and re-designate areas of green belt close to transport infrastructure. This sensible change would enable thousands of desperately needed new homes to be built. #ukhousing #SustainableDevelopment t.co/73CpCB0kkW
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10)The @G15London support @Siobhain_MP proposal to reform #NPPF and re-designate areas of green belt close to transport infrastructure. This sensible change would enable thousands of desperately needed new homes to be built. #ukhousing #SustainableDevelopment https://t.co/73CpCB0kkW
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10) May 8, 2018
What’s on
- The Housing, Communities and Local Government committee of MPs is debating land value capture from 4pm
- The National Housing Federation is hosting a webinar on homelessness reduction and the role of housing associations from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
