Council leaders have warned the Local Government Association (LGA) needs to take a 'firmer line' on welfare reform, as authorities gear up for the introduction of benefit caps.

Speaking at the LGA executive on 14 February, the leader of Stevenage BC, Cllr Sharon Taylor, said there is a 'good strength of feeling' over the welfare reforms with concerns about the timescale of introducing the universal credit scheme, the need for claimants to have a bank account and the online nature of the new programme.