Council wins praise from national group

A COALITION of more than 120 national organisations has congratulated Warrington Borough Council on achieving government support for the request it made for changes to welfare to help people make the sometimes difficult move from claiming benefits to working.
The group, Local Works, says Warrington Council was one of a 100 that made proposals to government in 2009 to help their communities under the Sustainable Communities Act following an extensive engagement process with local community organisations and residents in the area.
Government recently announced that it supports the council’s request for changes to the benefits system – including measures to make sure those on benefits are not worse off if they undertake small amounts of work, and setting up better support programmes for people coming off benefits and into work – and will recognise these requests as part of its overhaul of the welfare system.
Cllr Ian Marks (pictured) leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “I am very pleased that our suggestion has been adopted by the government and that Warrington is positively influencing national policy.”
Among groups in Local Works are groups such as the Women’s Institute, Age UK, Friends of the Earth, the Co-operative group, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Law Society and the Campaign for Real Ale.
Local Works national co-ordinator Steve Shaw, said: “We are pleased to see that the efforts of Warrington council and local people working together have resulted in government recognising the importance to communities of supporting people from welfare into work and ensuring people do not lose out by undertaking small amounts of work.
“We are also pleased that the government has invited councils and communities to submit proposals under the Act again and we look forward to the council using the Act to submit further requests to government for action to help the community.”