In 2006, Plymouth City Council approved the new Income Maximisation Strategy 2006-09.  This strategy was written following a huge consultation event with the Voluntary Sector in Plymouth, delivering income maxmisation (IM) services to the Plymouth population.

It was agreed that there would be an IM Steering Group, meeting on a bi-monthly basis.  This group would have representatives from the PCC funded voluntary sector organisations delivering IM services.  In addition to these representatives, there would be an additional 2 representatives to the IM Steering Group, who would be responsible for reporting back to the Plymouth Welfare Rights Forum, one of the two core co-ordinators between the Welfare Rights Sector and the Debt Advice Sector.  Ultimately, this means that the number of voluntary sector reps will always be greater than the number of statutory sector reps.

The result aimed for in having more voluntary sector reps than statutory sector, was for the IM Strategy to work in line with the needs and 'wants' of the voluntary sector and therefore could not be 'hijacked' by any statutory sector organisation.

The IM Steering Group is moving towards the end of its first year and is considered to be a successful, highly motivated group.

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