Date: 29/04/2008
Following concerns from local people, Councillors and Officers from High Peak Borough Council recently met with senior officials from the Rent Service to discuss the issues caused by changes in the Housing Benefit system.
The worst hit are people receiving housing benefit in Glossop, Hadfield and Gamesley - now grouped together with Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham - where rents are much cheaper and means that some residents have seen a reduction of £20 a week.
The Rent Service has agreed to carry out a review of the original findings, which should take around 3 months to complete.
The review will re-consider whether the Glossop area should be included in the North East Greater Manchester locality. It will take into account the nationally agreed criteria around access to services. There will be an opportunity for local organisations and groups to consider the evidence and have their say.
Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Social and Community Development, said:
"The meeting with the Rent Service was a very helpful and positive one and gave Councillors from all parties the opportunity to express the concerns of the residents they represent. The Rent Service reaffirmed a promise given to me in early April to undertake a prompt review of their decision to band Glossop in the North East Manchester grouping.
"High Peak Borough Council will continue to work closely with the Rent Service and local organisations to address the inequalities in the new housing benefit system and to push forward any changes to support and protect people receiving housing benefit within the High Peak.
A spokesperson for the Rent Service said: "The Rent Service takes the concerns of the Local Authority very seriously and we are satisfied that a fresh review of the Locality is appropriate. We look forward to a positive working relationship with High Peak Borough Council."
High Peak Borough Council will announce details of the review and consultation as soon as it becomes available.