Councillors allowances - a Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - WhatDoTheyKnow We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not - if you are David Davey please sign in and let everyone know. Since the Local Government Act 1985, Sandwell Council has effectively been a unitary authority, serving as the sole executive, deliberative, and legislative body responsible for local policy, setting council tax, and allocating budget in the district; although public transport, fire and police services, and the local government pension fund (West LHA is normally paid to the claimant. A seat on Sandwells cabinet nets another 15,768. In August 2021, the council's external auditors, Grant Thornton, initiated a value for money governance review into Sandwell's arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in. allowances, additional funds such as broadband allowances etc and chair Reforma Email address. Basically a list of who claims what. *Select how many bedrooms you are entitled to. Oldbury For information please go to purposes, you will usually need the permission of the copyright owner. He was succeeded by deputy leader Steve Elling.[13]. There is an urgent need for more foster carers across the country. The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure below. Licence. If you receive disability living allowance and your condition deteriorates if you request the claim to be reviewed then it will be assessed as a new PIP claim unless you are over the age 65 and in these cases only the care part can be looked at and increased. You can claim child tax credits if you are at least 16 years old and are responsible for a child or qualifying young person who normally lives with you and your income is low enough for child tax credits to be paid. Title of request: Freedom of Information request - Councillors allowances. (05798215). Mxico. C.P. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. service area for response. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. [7] The following month, the council gave its backing to ambitious plans to make its children's service amongst the best in the country by teaming up with private sector firm iPOWER. The first large redevelopment of this time came in 1992/93, when the West Smethwick Estate (known locally as the "Concrete Jungle" due to its network of interlinked concrete-constructed maisonette blocks) was demolished, despite only being around 25 years old, and replaced by a new low-rise housing estate known as Galton Village. [2]https://my.sandwell.gov.uk/. We also have a new specialist fostering scheme, take a look and see if its right for you. Pension Credit is a means tested benefit for people who have reached a qualifying age. Reforma Phone number. arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary. Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme (MLAS): When you join MLAS and become an accredited landlordyou receive a range of benefits including training on key issues, access to a specialdirect phone line to housing benefits, opportunities to work with the council in finding tenants andeasier access to advice and support. This benefit is based on you national insurance contribution and paid when you reach retirement age. Very public spiritedly, at Tuesdays meeting, the Labour dominated council also rejected an increase of 2.2% in councillors pay. skills of the carer and the maintenance allowance is paid according to the age of the child. Sandwells councillors pay themselves the most generous basic allowance of all the four Black Country boroughs at 10,600+p.a. Dudley Road But then it is also odd that the council claims to be maintaining front line services while ritualistically whingeing about cuts. If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to call us on 0800 358 0899. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This includes great savings at supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants, days out and many more. Although your tenant might receive benefit, it is important to remember that it is always the tenant's responsibility to make sure that the rent gets paid, not the council's. Despite the delays, it is anticipated that the majority of the regeneration will be completed by early 2014. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office B69 3DL, If you have any questions or queries please dont hesitate to call us on, Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick B67 5RJ. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. B69 3DL, Supporting Sandwell with the cost of living. Re: your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. www.sandwell.gov.uk-----Original Message----- From: [FOI . Although we may not necessarily tell you what action we may be taking or even tell youif your tenant is claiming benefit, we will still investigate reports of arrears. You can receive contribution based job seeker's allowance or income based job seeker's allowance dependent upon you and/or your partners circumstances. [Figures are the 2013-2014 amounts]. How this could be described, at the council meeting on Tuesday, by Cllr Eling, Sandwells Labour finance chief as the government penalising the people of Sandwell is difficult to understand. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Oldbury A prospective tenant can use a trial calculator to work out how much benefit they might receive. services through our wholly owned subsidiary LHA rates are based on set allowances for different sizes of accommodation within given areas. communications. Date of request: 22/06/2022 is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Download purposes, you will usually need the permission of the copyright owner. Regards. 932 328 0633. International: +52 932 328 0633. This means that we that we are responsible for all children in care in Sandwell. Wycliffe House But there are very few Labour councillors who have not been rewarded with additional so called Special Responsibility Allowances. Legal Services, Sandwell Council House, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3DE, England View in Google Maps DX 710070 SANDWELL. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. Sandwell is divided into 24 Wards and is represented by 72 ward councillors. Since the late 1980s, however, it has also demolished a considerable amount of post-1919 council housing. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974 to administer the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands county of England. Although Council Tax is normally the responsibility of thetenant (there are some exceptions) landlords may wish to consider whether a prospective tenant can realistically afford all aspects of their home before granting a tenancy. 12K weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. covered by Crown copyright can usually be used under the Open Government Cheshire carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken Copyright 2023 Sandwell Conservative Federation. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Members had already voted not to increase their 'basic' allowance for the year, saving the cash . %PDF-1.5 You may be able to get an advance payment of your benefit award, called a short term advance, if there is a delay with your claim or in paying your benefit and because of the delay you are in financial need. If you have certain care needs and problems outdoors you may qualify for personal independent payments, Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it , Local Welfare Provision and food vouchers, Your Council Tax Reduction award notice explained. I can confirm that this will be reviewed and allocated to the appropriate many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed Dudley Road To arrive at the above allowances the SMBC Payroll Team process a gross figure that is subject. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. Children's Services In April 2013, an OFSTED report criticised Sandwell's children's services highlighting failings around domestic violence and rating the service inadequate. This is a non means tested benefit which has replaced disability living allowance for people who are disabled either physically or mentally and who need extra care and support with their daily living. Their twice yearly e-magazine, The Bugle is a key source of information and a 'must read' for landlords. stream Budgeting Loans are paid through social fund. For information please go to <> Housing Benefit can help people pay their rent if their income is low enough when assessed. Tenants are free to withdraw permission at any time without having to give notice or reason. Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foster_care_allowances_1589 on March 05, 2023 03:44. each. 3. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ 3 0 obj Please note that even if a tenant is claiming benefits, arrears are still the responsibility of the tenant, not the local authority. Basic Allowance 2.1 This is a basic, flat rate allowance payable to all Members of the Council. For information please go to View as HTML, Reference: FOI-423647914 Plum committee chairs like planning and licensing get more. It does not depend on your income or savings or whether you have paid national insurance contributions and it can be paid along with child benefit. addition to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or x]o0#?&N1S'vQEKesR4i#@m\$sl~OW/eu{Xwj[z\\/1:e!A6,)p Open Parliament Licence. The information which you requested is enclosed. x\q}'G} ]q A)Y(: Homestamp: A consortium of different local authorities, housing organisations, public services and private landlords, working to improve standards in the private sector and offering support and useful, easy to access information for both landlords and tenants. Calle Adolfo Lpez Mateos S/N. Download 1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 2. https://www.facebook.com/sandwellcouncil If your benefit is sanctioned, suspended or disallowed or there is delay in making a decision on your claim you may be entitled to reduced rate hardship payments. However, if you Visible links respect of which prior approval has not been given by the Council. Six town-based improvement panels have also been scrapped, meaning payments for their chairs and vice-chairs will no longer be made. 1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ . Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article. Information request: Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly foster care allowances for 2. file:/// research or news reporting. Title of request: Foster Care allowances Bereavement Allowance cannot be paid above state pension age. For new claimants personal independent payment (PIP) has replaced disability living allowance. Established in 2008. The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Our new film, simply called Childhood, highlights the impact of neglect on children. If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have You may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring. Information produced by government departments including items which are receipt of this correspondence. Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? Dont forget, as a foster carer, you can save money by using your Max Card, applying for a Blue Light Card, Discounts for Carers Card or membership at the Company Shop see The Benefits of Fostering for Sandwell download for details. For the fifth year running Sandwells council tax has been frozen. Help us take action on local issues and build a better Britain. Residents can also check their Data Protection rules may prevent us from discussing a claim with you but you should still report this to us. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. service area for response. SK9 5AF. Click the button to start your fostering journey today! If we establish that benefit is being misused, we may be able to to pay benefit direct to the landlord, without the tenant's permission. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. If you have certain care needs and problems outdoors you may qualify for personal independent payments. Open Parliament Licence. Please submit your request through your account A proposed two per cent increase will be introduced from April. A large percentage of the multi-storey flats and maisonette blocks which were built during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s in the areas which now make up Sandwell have been demolished. Which benefits does Sandwell Council provide? mySociety council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly allowances for former foster All rights reserved. Bereavement Allowance is payable if you were aged 45 or over when yourspouse /civil partner died and is payable for 52 weeks following their death. Council Tax reduction can be claimed if your income is low enough for help. SocietyWorks Ltd Internal review requests should be submitted within 40 days of the date of Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property Setting up a home Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance Allowance amount: 2000 Sandwell Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers Please note, this response and any documents which are enclosed are You could get Carer's Allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. H. Attendance at meetings outside the Sandwell Council House, Oldbury by a Councillor in connection with the role for which a Special Responsibility Allowance is paid and who have elected to be a member of the Council's Transport Protocol. Information produced by government departments including items which are However, disability living allowance is claimed for children less than 16 years of age. BBC. We try and keep Sandwell landlords up-to-date through our website, newsletters and being represented at various landlord events. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log 4 0 obj Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Cambridgeshires Shadow Police and Crime Panel, Meeting minutes April 2014 - March 2015 finance & resource committee, Confimation of Appointment of Chief Executive, WEDNESBURY HSHAZ, Works and Active Travel, The Cox Review & Opinion of Jenni Richards QC, Oak House Museum -Accredited Museum Status. We can also pay benefit direct to the landlord if the rent is set at or below the appropriate LHA rate and it is a written requirement in the tenancy agreement that benefit is paid direct to the landlord or agent. Since many Labour councillors are related or married to another Sandwell councillor, the council is a game of Family Fortunes for a lot of them. If your tenant signs a data protection waiver formwe can share some information with you but this may be limited. All foster carers are entitled to apply for a Blue Light Card, this costs just 4.99 and provides 2-years access to an amazing range of discounts online and on the high street! The current Local Housing Allowance rates for Sandwell are shown below. We provide commercial Zz7AgzVU'{z'~?ggO~?_k4~O>>>{y[u/e%ml?xg>xUbC}Ag{~o?0|h{7|)#o?czwW^y;. We are a not for profit fostering agency. Visible links Sandwell Childrens Trust HQ x/g. While the decision was made by Sandwells Labour council, the credit must go to the government. If you think your tenant is receiving benefit and not paying their rent, please report this to us as soon as there is a problem. services through our wholly owned subsidiary The decision is set to be rubber-stamped by the council later this month following a review of allowances carried out by council leader Darren Cooper. attached This is benefit that someone can claim if you have an injury at work. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g. Wilmslow Then in each town in the borough there is a Town Lead Member and a Deputy another 8751 and 5,256 and a Town Service Improvement Chair, 8751, and deputy scrapping along with 2628 p.a. Remember we have lost 2,000 over the last five years.". In addition, there are expenses to claim and rich rewards from membership of external bodies to which councillors are nominated. "It is also the fact our staff have suffered. allocated. mySociety council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their Attendance Allowance is a tax free benefit for people aged 65 or over who are physically or mentally disabled and require help with their personal care or require supervision to remain safe. 2 0 obj council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their (see paragraph 5.3) I. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. 1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ Job Seeker's Allowance is paid to people from the age of 18 who are actively seeking employment. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council elections, "Find my local councillor | Sandwell Council", "Sandwell Council House - Sandwell Council House Freeth Street Oldbury UK Oldbury, , B69 3DE England - Administrative | Honest Buildings", "Freeze on allowances for Sandwell Council cabinet members " Express & Star", "Taskforce to be formed for children most at risk in Sandwell " Express & Star", "Regenerating Sandwell | Sandwell Council", "West Bromwich arts centre The Public closes for good", "Investors in The Public in West Brom could be set to sue", "Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper dies BBC News", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sandwell_Metropolitan_Borough_Council&oldid=1105626863, Metropolitan district councils of England, Local authorities in the West Midlands (county), Articles with unsourced statements from April 2022, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 August 2022, at 02:36. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . Visible links 1,501 talking about this. endobj It shows the journey of Sophie and Charlie who are in a very difficult home situation where their needs are not being met, to being nurtured and supported through foster care to attend school and be able to enjoy their hobbies and interests. View as HTML, Reference: FOI-431401843 It may not be complete. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. A seat on Sandwell's cabinet nets another 15,768. This film will be shared by all 56 partner foster services around the country who contributed to the making of this film. <> We hope our response fully satisfies your expectations. [5]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. Most of Sandwell's councillors are members of the Labour Party, with the Labour party having run the council since the first election in 1973, apart from one year between 1978 and 1979 when the Conservatives had a majority. decision. communications. Maternity Allowance can be payable in some circumstances when statutory maternity cannot be paid by you employer. You have to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit and been in receipt of the qualifying benefit for 26 weeks before the decision in regards to the loan and you application must be for certain categories. 7. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request. Internal review requests should be submitted within 40 days of the date of Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. A subsequent two per cent . Data protection rules limit what information we can give a landlord without the tenant's permission. endobj If you need information about your tenant's claim you should talk to your tenant first. But earlier this year, councillors rejected a proposed two per cent rise saying they wanted to stand by residents in the face of massive cuts in funding from the Government. personal allowance, based on an amount set by the government. Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly allowances for former Please note, this response and any documents which are enclosed are The move came despite the council needing to slash 63 million from its budgets by 2017. bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. The government simply offered the council money in return for the council not increasing the tax. You won't be paid extra if you care for more than one person. If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have Here are all the details of Reforma available below. 3. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ Reforma is a city and one of the 119 Municipalities of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding. One of the most controversial projects has been that of The Public, a community arts venue. Carers Allowance is paid to carers who are regularly caring for 35 hours or more per week for a severely disabled person. Water Lane Wellman Building [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. Residents can also check their Age Amount 0-4 5.46 5-10 9.05 11-15 14.07 16+ 23.71 . The Max Card is the UKs leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs. Council Tax is a domestic property based tax paid to the local authority to help pay for the services it provides. [5]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in Sandwell Council is set to raise council tax by 3.99 per cent for 2022/23 - one percent more than its neighbours in Birmingham. That was a legitimate question for them to ask. Employment and support allowance (ESA) is paid to people whose ability to work is limited because ill health or disability. Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Licence. Basically a list of who claims what. 7. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. Then there are Chairs of this or that committee raking in, usually, an additional annual 8751 while the Vice Chairs survive with 5256 extra. Information covered by parliamentary copyright is covered by the Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly foster care allowances for all age Under the changes, the council's deputy mayor will no longer receive additional payment for the role. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. year 2, and year 3 if necessary. 5. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell, 235K Please check the online calculator. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed (All figures are weekly amounts): Before moving into a new home a tenant should check what size accommodation they are allowed under LHA rules. Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/councillors_allowances_20182021 on March 05, 2023 03:43. Wycliffe House This is known as Council Tax Reduction (CTR). council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their [4], Despite being the 14th most deprived borough in the UK, the council has invested and worked with many partners to ensure the regeneration of the borough attracting many new SME businesses. Employment and support allowance has two elements, contributory ESA and income related depending on your circumstances. You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. Elections to the council take place in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats being contested at each election. Download (05798215). Rules are set by the government but it is paid by the local council. You will find details of the Open Government % If you want to use the documents for other Since 1989, parts of the Hateley Heath Estate in West Bromwich (mostly built in the late 1940s and early 1950s) have been demolished, including a section of maisonettes which were demolished in 1992 due to their unpopularity with potential tenants, as well as extensive vandalism of some of the properties while they were empty.