The Discretionary Housing Payments Review Advisory Panel was scheduled to consider two review requests regarding refusals to grant Discretionary Housing Payments. The meeting was also set to address membership and any declarations of interest.

Review of Refusal to Grant Discretionary Housing Payment

The panel was scheduled to consider two requests for a review of decisions made concerning Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). DHPs are payments made by local authorities to help people on low incomes who are struggling to pay their rent, particularly those affected by welfare reforms such as the benefit cap or the under-occupancy charge¹. The agenda indicated that this item would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to individuals, meaning the public and press would be excluded from this part of the meeting under the Local Government Act 1972.