sandwell council allowances

Despite the delays, it is anticipated that the majority of the regeneration will be completed by early 2014. service area for response. %PDF-1.7 Residents can also check their The remaining properties in the area, including the two surviving tower blocks, have been refurbished. all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. You will receive a further acknowledgement once your request has been Reference: FOI-423647914 Title of request: Freedom of Information request - Councillors allowances. Copyright 2023 Sandwell Conservative Federation. Information produced by government departments including items which are Councillor Philip Garrett, the authority's sole UKIP member, said special responsibility allowances had become 'almost laughable' and backed the move. attached many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed Internal review requests should be submitted within 40 days of the date of Elections to the council take place in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats being contested at each election. B69 3DL, Supporting Sandwell with the cost of living. 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. . communications. Note - movement between skill levels (progression) is dependent upon the skill . [2]https://my.sandwell.gov.uk/. Sandwell Childrens Trust HQ Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. However, if you Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. Click the button to start your fostering journey today! If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to call us on 0800 358 0899. A seat on Sandwells cabinet nets another 15,768. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding. personalised homepage. carers. decision. council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council research or news reporting. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. Attendance Allowance is not means tested, there are no national insurance tests and is paid in addition to any other benefits. 2. file:/// Permission is automatically treated as ending when a claim stops for any reason, including the tenant changing address. personal allowance, based on an amount set by the government. 1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ [citation needed], In May 2013, it was announced that following a re-shuffle, there was a freeze on allowances for Sandwell Council Cabinet Members and that the membership of the cabinet was reduced from 10 to 8. You can download a form to report that your tenant is vulnerable here. mileage. year 2, and year 3 if necessary. Title of request: Freedom of Information request - Councillors allowances Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition You will receive a further acknowledgement once your request has been 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. Sandwell Childrens Trust HQ These are uprated annually and can be viewed online at LHA Direct. Since the late 1980s, however, it has also demolished a considerable amount of post-1919 council housing. Cheshire You may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring. The process of demolishing similar properties had in fact started before 1974 during the existence of the former West Bromwich and Warley boroughs, as well as before 1966 under the original local authorities. The information which you requested is enclosed. Wycliffe House 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. This is a tax free benefit for anyone looking after effectively orphans. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . [5]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. [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. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> services through our wholly owned subsidiary This includes great savings at supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants, days out and many more. [3], In May 2021 the Conservative Party regained its presence on the Council, gaining 9 seats from the Labour Party. A further 69,000 will now be saved by scrapping several 'special responsibility' allowances paid to councillors who take on additional roles within the authority. Cheshire [8], Smethwick Regeneration: Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Windmill Eye NeighbourHood and a 23.5million redevelopment of Holly Lodge College of Science (creating a state of the art learning environment for 1,250 pupils), The Portway Lifestyle Centre, Wednesbury Leisure Centre, The Crofts and Charlemont Flats, Regeneration of West Bromwich: a significant piece of investment including provisions for new retail, entertainment, arts, education and transit links. Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Wilmslow 4. https://www.facebook.com/sandwellcouncil Wycliffe House WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. 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 Midlands Pension Fund) are jointly run by the seven metropolitan boroughs of the West Midlands county. Visible links You don't have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. Your eligibility for this benefit is tested under the work capability assessment. Employment and support allowance has two elements, contributory ESA and income related depending on your circumstances. allowances, additional funds such as broadband allowances etc and chair <>/Metadata 679 0 R/ViewerPreferences 680 0 R>> See the online calculator to see if you may be eligible to claim. 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. information relating to Councillor allowances and position held. [2]https://my.sandwell.gov.uk/. The move came despite the council needing to slash 63 million from its budgets by 2017. For information please go to Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in The allowance is the same for each Member and is paid in monthly instalments, in arrears, throughout the year. service area for response. Elsewhere in Tipton, several maisonette blocks on the 1960s Glebefields Estate were demolished between 1989 and 1992, and the estate's two tower blocks were demolished in 2004. 8,oCYeQMP,0f bfVo[_+_8 /\/eXT[bzu=jU6""DH^LGdsxw=oG=L'}T2oN'#!f!: 8'5U1;MdU 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. to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not if you are, The Governance Team, 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. Date of request: 20/05/2022 <> We try and keep Sandwell landlords up-to-date through our website, newsletters and being represented at various landlord events. The 'basic' allowance for councillors in Sandwell is set at 9,500 which is intended to cover members' travel and office bills as well as any other payments required for them to carry out their duties. communications. We hope our response fully satisfies your expectations. . View as HTML, Reference: FOI-423647914 They really do not need it. View as HTML. He was succeeded by deputy leader Steve Elling.[13]. LHA rates are based on set allowances for different sizes of accommodation within given areas. SocietyWorks Ltd But there are very few Labour councillors who have not been rewarded with additional so called Special Responsibility Allowances. Between 2000 and 2005, Carisbrooke House multi-storey flats and several blocks of low-rise flats (all built in the 1960s) were demolished on the Friar Park Estate in Wednesbury, while the council has retained and updated the much older houses which make up the bulk of the estate. While the decision was made by Sandwells Labour council, the credit must go to the government. 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. 7. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. That was a legitimate question for them to ask. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log 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. Online housing services. 1 0 obj Tenants can also sign a section on their application form to give permission to share information but this has strict limits about what can be shared. 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. Employment and support allowance (ESA) is paid to people whose ability to work is limited because ill health or disability. Visible links We're waiting for David Davey to read recent responses and update the status. Income support is a means tested benefit or income related benefit, intended to provide certain living expenses for you or your partner if you have one. Corporate Contact Centre Customer Services Transform Sandwell. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. mySociety allowances. For the fifth year running Sandwells council tax has been frozen. Data protection rules limit what information we can give a landlord without the tenant's permission. Family & Parenting Vacation & Time Off Perks & Benefits Professional Support Family & Parenting Childcare Vouchers Employer Verified Flexible Working Employer Verified covered by Crown copyright can usually be used under the Open Government Licence and Open Parliament Licence at [1]www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. are dissatisfied, you are entitled to an Internal Review. 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. services through our wholly owned subsidiary many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed To arrive at the above allowances the SMBC Payroll Team process a gross figure that is subject. the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a You won't be paid extra if you care for more than one person. The 3.99 per cent figure covers a basic council tax increase. Dudley Road Wellman Building 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. each. collections; fly tipping and pot holes. Reforma Email address. Unlike health and the NHS, social care has always . The current Local Housing Allowance rates for Sandwell are shown below. Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Allowance. We all know that money isnt the first consideration when you are think about becoming a foster carer. Oldbury This is known as Council Tax Reduction (CTR). (Please note if you make an enquiry, youll get a reply email from us. You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? Between 1992 and 2000, six of the nine tower blocks on the Lion Farm Estate in Oldbury (built in the early 1960s) were demolished and most of the land redeveloped with new housing. Oldbury Under the changes, the council's deputy mayor will no longer receive additional payment for the role. Their twice yearly e-magazine, The Bugle is a key source of information and a 'must read' for landlords. collections; fly tipping and pot holes. council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their Visible links Six town-based improvement panels have also been scrapped, meaning payments for their chairs and vice-chairs will no longer be made. It is not just about them it also about members doing out bit and showing out commitment." Councillors' allowances in Sandwell have been cut back by 100,000 after a review of their pay. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. We provide commercial View as HTML. If you want to use the documents for other Wed love to see you there! arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary. 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. 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. For information please go to Reference: FOI-431401843 Download Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log To find your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate, fill in the details and select 'Submit'. 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. 5. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell, 235K Fostering Fees, Benefits & Allowances - Sandwell Children's Trust Fostering Fees, Benefits & Allowances We all know that money isn't the first consideration when you are think about becoming a foster carer. A subsequent two per cent . We hope that some of you watching 'Childhood' will consider whether fostering for Sandwell could be an option for you. Licence and Open Parliament Licence at [1]www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. If you need information about your tenant's claim you should talk to your tenant first. In the early years of this process, many of these properties lacked a bathroom or indoor toilet, as well as being generally unfit for human habitation, with refurbishment not deemed to be a viable option. (see paragraph 5.3) I. Entitlement to working tax credits depends on your age and how many hours of paid work you do a week. "The next few years are not going to get any easier for local government and we need to do our bit," he said. If you dont see one, please check your trash or spam folder thanks! Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request. 1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sandwell is divided into 24 Wards and is represented by 72 ward councillors. positions, vice chair etc. decision. Licence. 932 328 0633. International: +52 932 328 0633. Established in 2008. Council Tax is a domestic property based tax paid to the local authority to help pay for the services it provides. Residents can also check their He added: "One of the things which came out from the consultation with staff is they asked 'what have members done to contribute to the cuts?'. Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. 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 When reporting rent arrears, please give as much detail as possible, including: You should provide a rent statement as evidence of arrears. It is made up of two components, mobility and care. The Leader of the Council said that "successful small businesses are essential for the economy and for thriving local communities"[6]. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . Conservative policy in Sandwell is to derail the gravy train by immediately reducing the number of councillors from 72 to 48, as has been done in other councils, and then to examine the Special Responsibility Allowances system. If you would like to receive email updates from us, please contact us. 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! Information produced by government departments including items which are Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly foster care allowances for all age The current Local Housing Allowance rates for Sandwell are shown below. SocietyWorks Ltd 3 0 obj 2.2 Where the term of office of a member begins or ends otherwise than at Please note, this response and any documents which are enclosed are Donate and support our work. This benefit is based on you national insurance contribution and paid when you reach retirement age. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding. allocated. Other factors will affect how much benefit we can pay: these include the tenant's income, capital and household composition. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. David Davey made this Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council [10] The Council announced in October 2013 that it had entered into an agreement with Sandwell College to take over the building, converting it into a Sixth Form college. Dudley Road In other words, have a childhood. Pension Credit is a means tested benefit for people who have reached a qualifying age. Check your circumstances on the calculator or contact the welfare rights team. [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. purposes, you will usually need the permission of the copyright owner. bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. One of the most controversial projects has been that of The Public, a community arts venue. Two of the four tower blocks on the 1960s Riddins Mound Estate in Cradley Heath were demolished in 1996. 4 0 obj There is an urgent need for more foster carers across the country. The council has also agreed to freeze council tax for a fifth year in a row. Foster carers are also able to apply for membership at Company Shop, the UKs leading redistributor of surplus food and household products. Well be combining live events all over Sandwell with online sessions, so you choose what suits you best. mySociety 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. 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 Reforma Postal address. respect of which prior approval has not been given by the Council. The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure. 13K Subscribe to one or all notification sources from this one place. It can top up your income to the minimum level set by the government. 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. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. protected by copyright laws, which means that you do not have an automatic (05798215). Please note that even if a tenant is claiming benefits, arrears are still the responsibility of the tenant, not the local authority. Download However, disability living allowance is claimed for children less than 16 years of age. Allowances are tied in to employee pay increases meaning when staff get a pay rise, basic allowances go up by the same rate automatically. 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. If you have certain care needs and problems outdoors you may qualify for personal independent payments. 29500 Reforma, Chiapas. Please quote your reference number INT1-715884303 on all future correspondence. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log We are owned by, but independent from, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Residents can also check their 3. https://twitter.com/sandwellcouncil The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure below. skills of the carer and the maintenance allowance is paid according to the age of the child. However, for most people who qualify for our help, Sandwell Council will meet the cost of the service, and you will normally pay us a contribution towards the total cost . 1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. 3. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ right to copy or use them other than for private study, non-commercial Sandwells councillors pay themselves the most generous basic allowance of all the four Black Country boroughs at 10,600+p.a. Payments are not made for the first two weeks unless your situation is considered vulnerable. %PDF-1.5 the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Please could you tell me your 2021-22 weekly foster care allowances for all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. www.sandwell.gov.uk-----Original Message----- From: [FOI . <> Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly allowances for former foster <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> It is made up of two components, mobility and care. foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put Please submit your request through your account Members had already voted not to increase their 'basic' allowance for the year, saving the cash . See the online calculator to see if you may be eligible to claim. each. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence. receipt of this correspondence. Residents can also check their Basically a list of who claims what. (05798215). Download Councillor Cooper said he made the latest changes following consultation with council staff, but did not want to announce his intentions before the recent elections so it could not be perceived as a ploy to win votes. [Figures are the 2013-2014 amounts]. 5. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell, 100K [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. *Select how many bedrooms you are entitled to. It is crucial that you keep a proper written record of any payments received as well as missed payments. receipt of this correspondence. So along with detail of our fees and allowances you can also find helpful guides books from Sandwell Council and FosterTalk, as well as a summary of the additional benefits and money saving tips weve put together to help all our foster carers. Please could you release information of all current councillors allowances, additional funds such as broadband allowances etc and chair positions, vice chair etc.