Welfare reform

2013 will see the most radical changes to welfare for decades. Councils are having to take on new responsibilities with council tax support and the local provision for the social fund. But there are other significant indirect consequences for councils; some of which are still uncertain, such what the impact will be of housing benefit and other welfare changes people of claimants having to downsize or move to cheaper areas. Welfare cuts will undoubtedly mean rising demand for some services, such as money advice and possibly homelessness services in some areas. The financial impact on councils is uncertain – will the new arrangements for rent under universal credit, for example, mean a rise in bad debts? We will begin to understand the implications more as universal credit is phased in starting in April. The council is well aware of the problems ahead and is doing what it can to advise residents expected to be caught up in the changes.

2011 Census

The 2011 census is providing some interesting information on 

Brent and Willesden.  As we have suspected all along our 

population numbers have been grossly underestimated 

in the past ten years, costing the borough many thousands in 

government grants.  Willesden data shows that in comparison 

with other wards, Willesden is:

The 6^th in population growth (up 22.39%)

The 5^th in households with more than one resident ( 17.03%)

Those aged  5 – 19 comprise 17.7% of total and overall ward is 3^rd 

with population of 0 -19 year olds (so a very ‘young’ ward)

32,676 residents are aged 65 + (putting ward 19^th for this age group)

We will have other data for the ward in the coming months