On Monday, we revisited our chat about the implications of prioritising statutory services over non-statutory ones. We highlighted concerns raised by domestic abuse organisations, who warn that reducing their funding will significantly cut the support they can provide. We also noted that support for special education has become so restricted that it’s starting to draw public attention due to its stark limitations.
Paul Howarth brought up a key issue: when non-statutory services like domestic violence support are cut, it increases the demand for statutory services, including emergency housing and temporary accommodation. Making discretionary decisions based on very strict criteria leads to more appeals and legal challenges, which not only adds to administrative costs but also puts more pressure on other support services.
We then talked about recent fraud statistics. Despite headlines claiming these figures are sky-high, we felt they were surprisingly low. What stood out was the rise in online scams and authorised push payments, with claims that fraud in the UK has doubled in the past year. Yet, we were sceptical about the accuracy of these figures and their ability to convey the full picture. For example, when discussing Council Tax fraud, the numbers seemed small. Our conversation touched on SPD (Single Person Discount) fraud, noting varying levels of success among councils in addressing it. Still, we found the data from the NFI (National Fraud Initiative) to be questionable.
Lastly, I want to remind you about our second AI workshop of the year happening next Wednesday at 11:00 AM. It promises to be an engaging session with several great speakers. It’s free, and if you haven’t signed up yet, please email me at malcolm@visionarynetwork.co.uk to book your spot.
The recording can be accessed from https://bit.ly/VNR240220. While the slide pack, files and reports can be downloaded below.
We also have a WhatsApp group where you can stay connected and participate in further discussions. You can join us here: https://bit.ly/3Qjrkqe.
Please note that the handout contains additional slides covering other items of interest in the news and job adverts, which are provided in partnership with Business Smart (https://www.businesssmartsolutions.co.uk/).
We have launched a new subscription service for our CTR rewrite product. This lets you spread the cost over five years, providing steady service during this period. With the recent changes in welfare benefits and the upcoming election, this could be a helpful option for you. More information is available at https://bit.ly/CTRP23.
Files and reports to be downloaded: