When reporting rent arrears, please give as much detail as possible, including: You should provide a rent statement as evidence of arrears. This includes great savings at supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants, days out and many more. 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. each. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> We are a not for profit fostering agency. To find your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate, fill in the details and select 'Submit'. service area for response. communications. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future Date of request: 22/06/2022 Download We also have a new specialist fostering scheme, take a look and see if its right for you. research or news reporting. Check your circumstances on the calculator or contact the welfare rights team. Data Protection rules may prevent us from discussing a claim with you but you should still report this to us. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log 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. % collections; fly tipping and pot holes. For information please go to Open Parliament Licence. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. Dudley Road [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. The 3.99 per cent figure covers a basic council tax increase. 1 0 obj is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Required information is marked with an asterisk ( * ). Visible links If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? 3 0 obj stream You can meet the team and find out about fostering for Sandwell by coming along to any of our free information events. 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. personalised homepage. B69 3DL, If you have any questions or queries please dont hesitate to call us on, Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick B67 5RJ. Residents can also check their Current and former employees report that Sandwell Council provides the following benefits. Sandwell Council is getting better and improving, according to the authority's Labour leader after her party increased its majority. Our new film, simply called Childhood, highlights the impact of neglect on children. 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. Sandwell Children's Trust has the following expectations. Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Open Parliament Licence. Reference: FOI-423647914 Re: your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The current Local Housing Allowance rates for Sandwell are shown below. Printed from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/foster_care_allowances_1589 on March 05, 2023 03:44. Budgeting Loans are paid through social fund. Sandwell Childrens Trust HQ A prospective tenant can use a trial calculator to work out how much benefit they might receive. You can get child benefit if you are responsible for a child or young person and it is not means tested unless you are a higher rate taxpayer. Members had already voted not to increase their 'basic' allowance for the year, saving the cash . x\q}'G} ]q A)Y(: Under the changes, the council's deputy mayor will no longer receive additional payment for the role. <>/Metadata 603 0 R/ViewerPreferences 604 0 R>> There is an urgent need for more foster carers across the country. protected by copyright laws, which means that you do not have an automatic Reforma Email address. Job Seeker's Allowance is paid to people from the age of 18 who are actively seeking employment. The borough council has also made money available for refurbishment of older private sector housing which is still deemed viable for retention. Plum committee chairs like planning and licensing get more. 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 covered by parliamentary copyright is covered by the You don't have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. But there are very few Labour councillors who have not been rewarded with additional so called Special Responsibility Allowances. 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. The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure below. Oldbury services through our wholly owned subsidiary It is not means tested and the person being cared for has to be in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit and there is an earnings limit whereby if earnings are above 102.00 per week there is no entitlement. If you have certain care needs and problems outdoors you may qualify for personal independent payments. [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. [Figures are the 2013-2014 amounts]. I can confirm that this will be reviewed and allocated to the appropriate Since its formation in 1974, the borough council has demolished a considerable percentage of the area's privately owned 19th and early 20th century housing stock. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . personalised homepage. B69 3DL, Supporting Sandwell with the cost of living. But there are very few Labour councillors who have not been rewarded with additional so called Special Responsibility Allowances. View as HTML. [2]https://my.sandwell.gov.uk/. The council offices are located at the Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury town centre, which opened in 1989.[2]. If you are an adult and currently receive disability living allowance you will at some point be reassessed for personal independent payment unless you have reached the age of 65. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. mySociety The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office 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 A subsequent two per cent . However, if you [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. personal allowance, based on an amount set by the government. That was a legitimate question for them to ask. But then it is also odd that the council claims to be maintaining front line services while ritualistically whingeing about cuts. %PDF-1.5 5. https://twitter.com/sandwellcouncil However, if you mileage. Download Sandwells councillors pay themselves the most generous basic allowance of all the four Black Country boroughs at 10,600+p.a. Very public spiritedly, at Tuesdays meeting, the Labour dominated council also rejected an increase of 2.2% in councillors pay. 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. 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. Note - movement between skill levels (progression) is dependent upon the skill . 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. 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. council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their Wilmslow Facilities at this office. *Select how many bedrooms you are entitled to. Our next Fostering Information event is on Wednesday 26th March at Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick B67 5RJ at 6.30pm. You won't be paid extra if you care for more than one person. The council has also agreed to freeze council tax for a fifth year in a row. receipt of this correspondence. These are uprated annually and can be viewed online at LHA Direct. While the decision was made by Sandwells Labour council, the credit must go to the government. Please submit your request through your account 1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ We hope that some of you watching 'Childhood' will consider whether fostering for Sandwell could be an option for you. Your eligibility for this benefit is tested under the work capability assessment. x/g. For the fifth year running Sandwells council tax has been frozen. Members had already voted not to increase their 'basic' allowance for the year, saving the cash-strapped authority 31,000. For information please go to Licence. looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, This includes travel and holiday deals , money off top fashion brands, savings on homeware and electricals, through to deals on mobile phones, utilities and gym memberships. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . 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. [11] It is proposed that the council would need to borrow the money to refit the 70million arts centre to make it suitable for the college whilst investors in the original project may sue the council if this proposal were to go ahead. Rules are set by the government but it is paid by the local council. and a limited company (03277032). If you want to use the documents for other A seat on Sandwell's cabinet nets another 15,768. The Leader of the Council said that "successful small businesses are essential for the economy and for thriving local communities"[6]. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. endobj <> This is known as Council Tax Reduction (CTR). 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. 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 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. This is holiday allowance or mileage. Please note, this response and any documents which are enclosed are positions, vice chair etc. Your donations keep this site and others like it running. You will receive a further acknowledgement once your request has been Foster carers are also able to apply for membership at Company Shop, the UKs leading redistributor of surplus food and household products. Allowances are tied in to employee pay increases meaning when staff get a pay rise, basic allowances go up by the same rate automatically. Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Cheshire )oz9Tm|hqa?J}/T}yt/'.eKszoiuna/sJHQGL{^[6FCI_]A. Despite the delays, it is anticipated that the majority of the regeneration will be completed by early 2014. Licence and Open Parliament Licence at [1]www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Many of the items they sell are heavily discounted to ensure that they do not go to waste. 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. 932 328 0633. International: +52 932 328 0633. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log Employment and support allowance has two elements, contributory ESA and income related depending on your circumstances. If your tenant is receiving Housing Benefit we might be able to pay future amounts to you. attached The Governance Team, 5. https://twitter.com/sandwellcouncil Information covered by parliamentary copyright is covered by the We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not if you are, The Governance Team, 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. Remember we have lost 2,000 over the last five years.". many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed Discounts for carers offers exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers for carers and care workers. Dudley Road Internal review requests should be submitted within 40 days of the date of right to copy or use them other than for private study, non-commercial We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. ), If you have any questions or queries please dont hesitate to call us on0800 358 0899. Date of request: 20/05/2022 Download is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Please note that even if a tenant is claiming benefits, arrears are still the responsibility of the tenant, not the local authority. This film will be shared by all 56 partner foster services around the country who contributed to the making of this film. 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. each. Donate and support our work. I write further to your request, which was received on 22 June 2022, for <>/Metadata 679 0 R/ViewerPreferences 680 0 R>> 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. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed David Davey made this Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council See the online calculator to see if you may be eligible to claim. Please check the online calculator. Cheshire 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. Visible links 8,oCYeQMP,0f bfVo[_+_8 /\/eXT[bzu=jU6""DH^LGdsxw=oG=L'}T2oN'#!f!: 8'5U1;MdU If you need information about your tenant's claim you should talk to your tenant first. Your income and circumstances will also affect how much you get. Established in 2008. You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. Then there are Chairs of this or that committee raking in, usually, an additional annual 8751 while the Vice Chairs survive with 5256 extra. Sandwell Childrens Trust HQ Reference: FOI-431401843 all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. 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. Licence and Open Parliament Licence at [1]www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. 2. Basically a list of who claims what. Residents can also check their It is strongly recommended that anyone moving to a new home in Sandwell who expects to claim benefits checks their eligibility and likely level of entitlement before doing so. Copyright 2023 Sandwell Conservative Federation. "The next few years are not going to get any easier for local government and we need to do our bit," he said. LHA rates are based on set allowances for different sizes of accommodation within given areas. Please submit your request through your account This is a tax free benefit for anyone looking after effectively orphans. covered by Crown copyright can usually be used under the Open Government The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure. 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. 5. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell, 235K Money from central government has meant no council tax rise for Sandwell people. % carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken Wilmslow The Max Card is the UKs leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs. WhatDoTheyKnow also publishes and archives requests and responses, building a massive archive of information. Payments are not made for the first two weeks unless your situation is considered vulnerable. Information produced by government departments including items which are research or news reporting. <> 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. receipt of this correspondence. It can top up your income to the minimum level set by the government. Established in 2008. This benefit is based on you national insurance contribution and paid when you reach retirement age. endobj A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. decision. allocated. If your tenant signs a data protection waiver formwe can share some information with you but this may be limited. 7. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. 3. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ are dissatisfied, you are entitled to an Internal Review. Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. endobj Wellman Building With 24 of the authority's 72 seats contested, Labour held . "It is also the fact our staff have suffered. SocietyWorks Ltd Sandwell's councillors pay themselves the most generous basic allowance of all the four Black Country boroughs at 10,600+p.a. If you dont see one, please check your trash or spam folder thanks! "The reason I have pushed this through is I did not think it was fair to carry on as we were, given the cuts the council is experiencing. 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. to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. They really do not need it. 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. 3. https://twitter.com/sandwellcouncil allowances, additional funds such as broadband allowances etc and chair Elections to the council take place in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats being contested at each election. Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their personalised homepage. decision. Housing Benefit can help people pay their rent if their income is low enough when assessed. The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Water Lane 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?'. endobj Rules on CTR are set locally by each council and in Sandwell there is a two year residency qualification for most people before they are able to claim. Re: your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Sandwell Council is set to raise council tax by 3.99 per cent for 2022/23 - one percent more than its neighbours in Birmingham. Councillors allowances 7. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. 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. allowances. 4. https://www.facebook.com/sandwellcouncil Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. Their twice yearly e-magazine, The Bugle is a key source of information and a 'must read' for landlords. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed 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. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log attached [12], The leader of Sandwell Council, Darren Cooper, died suddenly on 26 March 2016, while in office. 1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Water Lane Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. 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. Attendance Allowance is not means tested, there are no national insurance tests and is paid in addition to any other benefits. 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. However, if the claimant has rent arrears or has difficulty managing their finances due to vulnerability, we can consider paying the landlord. Data protection rules limit what information we can give a landlord without the tenant's permission.