Published on:
25
March 2013
Don't shoot the messenger was the clear message from Clackmannanshire Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley ahead of changes to the Welfare System by the coalition government at Westminster being introduced next week, 1st April.
The Council Leader added that Scottish local government was bracing itself to deal with the devastating fallout which the welfare and benefit reforms would bring.
He also expressed his anger that it would be Councils such as Clackmannanshire who would be the ones left to pick up the pieces - despite them having nothing whatsoever to do with the introduction of the controversial reforms.
Speaking ahead of some of the changes coming into force Councillor Womersley also said that this legislation would have a real and long term damaging effect on many of the most vulnerable in society and put even more strain on local government services that are already creaking under pressure.
Councillor Womersley said: "It is ironic that the first batch of these welfare and benefit reforms come into force on April fools' day, because believe me there is nothing remotely humorous about them.
"Make no mistake here - no blame whatsoever can be put at the door of Clackmannanshire Council for either introducing these measures or for the devastating impact that this legislation is about to have on our communities.
"Our role in this is to manage the consequences in the way that does the least possible damage to our communities and that will be a very, very difficult task.
"No part of my speaking out on this issue should be seen as a suggestion that we do not embrace change or that we do not recognise the need for some change within the current system. Indeed we've shown at Clackmannanshire Council we can both improve services and reduce costs.
"I am simply pointing out to those who will be hardest hit by these changes that it is not their local council to blame. Indeed Clackmannanshire Council is going to be hit with the double whammy of the massive increase in people seeking our help at a time of diminishing resources.
"Sadly, what is actually being proposed in terms of welfare reform and the damage it will do is both extreme and ill thought out. The huge damage it will do to our communities is not something that I can support, and nor should others.
"The UK Government is transferring cost and responsibility for the needs of people on benefit onto local government. It is impossible for Clackmannanshire Council to subsidise the levels of cuts people will experience but we will do everything within our power to support the most vulnerable in our communities."
On Thursday Clackmannanshire Council's Housing, Health and Care Committee unanimously agreed an emergency motion that the council "oppose the bedroom tax."
The Committee voted that "this council will do everything it can to mitigate the negative effects of the bedroom tax.
"In addition, this Council resolves that for a transitional period of one year, where the appropriate senior officer is satisfied that tenants who are subject to the bedroom tax are doing all they reasonably can to avoid falling into arrears, it will use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction."
The motion will go before the next meeting of Council on 16th May.
Councillor Womersley concluded: "We had hoped that the Coalition Government at Westminster were willing to work with us, and listen to some of these concerns. We had hoped that they would be reasonable and consider how to prevent the negative impact of these changes on councils, services and most importantly on people. That seems not to be the case."