The Discretionary Housing Payments Review Advisory Panel of Westminster Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday 26 February 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the consideration of three review requests concerning refusals to grant Discretionary Housing Payments.

Review of Refusal to Grant Discretionary Housing Payment

The panel was scheduled to consider three requests for a review of decisions where Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) had been refused. Discretionary Housing Payments are a fund provided by local authorities to help people who are struggling to pay their rent, particularly those affected by welfare reforms such as the benefit cap or the under-occupancy charge¹. The report pack indicated that these reviews would involve information relating to individuals, and therefore, the public and press were recommended to be excluded from this part of the meeting under the Local Government Act 1972.

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as noting any changes to the membership of the panel and receiving declarations of interest from members and officers.