Labour councillors have hit back over claims Caerphilly County Borough Council is not doing enough to help tenants affected by the so-called ‘Bedroom Tax’ saying campaigners were “sniping” from the sidelines.
Council leader Harry Andrews said: “At the initiative of our Labour-led Council, and with the support of tenants’ representatives, Caerphilly Council’s staff have worked tirelessly to support all tenants affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’.
“No Caerphilly tenant has been evicted as a result of the Bedroom Tax. Hundreds are better off as a result of our staff’s expert advice and support.”
Cllr Gerald Jones, Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, added: “We have taken on four extra, dedicated Tenancy Support Officers to help tenants affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’. They offer face-to-face support to tenants in their own homes, with guidance on finding more suitable homes, benefits, budgeting and finding employment.
“By the end of January 2014, over 1,700 tenants had been visited in their homes and provided with support. And these dedicated efforts will continue until we can elect Ed Miliband as Labour Prime Minister in 2015, and the Bedroom Tax will be repealed.”
Cllr Jones added: “Since there was a representative of the ‘Caerphilly Against the Bedroom Tax’ campaign at Caerphilly Council’s Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting in March, when all this information was made available, I’m frankly very disappointed that they should make negative claims that they know to be untrue.
“I urge them to engage in constructive dialogue with us about how we can help our tenants even better, rather than snipe away from the sidelines.”
The removal of the subsidy from housing benefit has seen payments to claimants cut by 14% for those with one spare bedroom and 25% for two or more spare bedrooms.
Critics have called this a ‘Bedroom Tax’.