GREATER MANCHESTER WELFARE RIGHTS ADVICERS GROUP (GMWRAG) MEETING

							    GREATER MANCHESTER WELFARE RIGHTS
     ADVISERS GROUP (GMWRAG) MEETING –
          TRAFFORD 18TH OF JULY 2008

Attending:

Jane Hobson                   Trafford Welfare Rights
Joan Carter                   Trafford Welfare Rights
Sunil Bhabuta                 Trafford Welfare Rights
Jane Crawford                 Trafford Welfare Rights
Jane Eberhart                 Salford Welfare Rights
Ruth Cheesbrough              Tameside Welfare Rights
Sandra Fisher                 Rochdale Advice
Liz Cropper                   Salford Mental Health Services CAB
Rob Jenkins                    Stockport Welfare Rights
Julie Doyle                   DIAL
Jean Hart                     Cheshire County Council WRS
Kate Winterbottom              Adactus HA
Don Williams                   Bury ACS (SSD)

Apologies:

John Ball                     Adactus HA
Philip Coleman                Salford Welfare Rights Service
Mike Hughes                   Salford Welfare Rights Service
Kurt Kleinschmidt             Tameside Welfare Rights Service
Lyn Kirwan                    Manchester CAB
Roger Thompson                Tameside Welfare Rights Service
Terry Patterson               Manchester Advice


Minutes of previous meeting

Accepted as true record




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Matters arising from previous meeting:

Web site
There are some teething problems. An urgent need for training for
those volunteering to update it. To go on the agenda for the next
meeting.

ESA
It was suggested that GMWRAG put some training on before the
introduction at the end of October. Sandra will look into something for
the next GMWRAG meeting in Rochdale.

Kidz up North
The event is on Thursday 20th of November from 9.30 to 5.00. Philip
Coleman is setting up the stall and organising the Rota. Volunteers to
contact him (Philip.coleman@salford.gov.uk)

New Tribunal Rules (draft)
A general discussion took place regarding the rules and the
presentations given by Nick Warren at Manchester and Liverpool. The
key objective of the rules highlighted was to deal with cases fairly and
justly. The discussion covered the difficulties the rules may cause reps
specifically the Case management powers and at what point
representative will become involved in a case. Plus there was some
disquiet regarding rule 11 as some of the group felt that Nick Warren
inferred that once a representative had become involved it would be
likely that all documentation would be sent to them and not the
appellant (11(3)(b)). Many experience appellants filling in GL24’S
and enquiry forms and giving names and addresses of a representative
before they have seen anyone. This discussion lead us to the next
agenda item:




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Ethics and Tribunals
This issue had been raised at the last principal officers meeting and it
has been suggested that there should be training for representatives.
The group was unclear about what this meant. There was discussion
about the conduct of tribunal members. We talked about a case of a
member of the group who complained about a chairman’s reference to
them in a statement of reasons. The complaint was eventually upheld
by the Lord Chancellor. Rob referred to the mention at a previous
NAWRA meeting of a pilot in Derby and Nottingham where tribunal
proceedings were recorded.

Any other Business
Rob referred to the news item on rightsnet regarding the new DWP
guidance on common law recovery of official error overpayments
following CPAG challenge.

NAWRA
Ipswich on 06.06.08. Julie went and summarised workshops etc.
Specifically referred to the rolling program of changing all benefit
payments (apart from DLA/AA) to fortnightly from November
(details will be on the NAWRA website).
Next meeting is September in Glasgow.

Next Meeting
Rochdale on Friday the 19th of September.




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