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Council to host Social Inclusion Conference

Published: 13/02/2020

COPELAND Borough Council will host the first Social Inclusion Conference this month to highlight the wide range of support that is available for residents in the borough.

The council and its partners have an extensive Social Inclusion Programme, designed to provide equal opportunities for residents of all ages.

We work with a number of social and private landlords across the borough to house tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit.

Rent that is owed to landlord under the terms of the tenancy is between the tenant and the landlord and we deal solely with the Housing Benefit entitlement for the period the tenant is living in the property.

Under most circumstances, details regarding a tenant’s claim are confidential and cannot be disclosed to a landlord unless written consent has been provided by the tenant.

Details of Copeland Council's Contracts Register can be found below:

Expenditure over £500 January 2020

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We have a rent deposit scheme to help people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The scheme helps people who are eligible to pay the deposit for good standard privately rented accommodation. We will decide if you are eligible and whether the property is suitable.

If you find a property that you would like to rent you MUST NOT agree to pay the deposit until the property has been inspected by our technical officer.

A Discretionary Housing Payment may be awarded when other housing benefits do not provide enough money to pay the rent. Discretionary Housing Payments are not part of the normal Housing Benefit or Universal Credit schemes but are payments that may be made where extra financial support is needed.

How can residents claim?

Only residents who currently receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with Housing Costs can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

You can claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment by:

Council tax reduction enables eligible residents to receive up to a 100 per cent reduction on their Council Tax bill.

Residents may be eligible for council tax reduction if they are:

on a low/no household income
the liable person for Council Tax
eligible for Universal Credit

Residents who are unlikely to qualify include those who:

have savings of more than £16,000
live with someone who earns over the income threshold

How can residents claim?

Council agrees its budget

Published: 10/02/2020

COPELAND Council has agreed its budget for 2020/21.

Councillors voted today (Monday) to accept the budget proposed by Mayor Mike Starkie.

Mr Starkie said: "I am delighted that Copeland Council has agreed my budget proposals by 23 votes to two.

"For the fifth consecutive year, we have produced a budget that guarantees no cuts to frontline services.

"Also for the fifth year running, we have pegged council tax and fees/charges increases below the rate of inflation, which represents a real-time reduction, and keeps more money in our residents’ pockets.