Real Benefits for Ipswich (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Real Benefits for Ipswich

March 2, 2007 2:49 PM

For years, Labour's performance in managing benefits at Ipswich was one of the worst in the country, hurting some of the most vulnerable in Ipswich.

Ipswich's performance in calculating benefits claims quickly and accurately was in the bottom quarter of all authorities in the country. If you needed to start claiming benefit, you did not have the time for Labour's poor administration to deal with it, you needed help and needed it quickly.

So it's great news for the people of Ipswich that the Borough has now moved into the top quarter of all authorities in the country! Speed of processing claims is up dramatically, the backlog is disappearing fast, and accuracy is up.

But the story is even better. We decided to get consultants in, on a "no win, no fee" basis. They have found us external funding and helped change methods to get the processing done faster. Without our share of the savings, next year's council tax would have been around 4% higher.

Does it surprise you that Labour opposed getting these consultants in, who have helped turn the system round AND achieve savings? Labour are strangely quiet on this subject now though…