Agenda item

Purpose of Report

To provide the Joint Committee with an update on performance in the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service.

Decision

That performance in the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service be noted.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

Council tax

As at the end of quarter three, in-year collections compared to the same point in 2016-17 were as follows:

·         the City of Lincoln was slightly up by 0.05%;

·         North Kesteven was slightly down by 0.18%.

Members were informed that the latest update to the end of January 2018 was as follows:

·         the City of Lincoln was up by 1.12%;

·         North Kesteven was down by 0.12%.

It was noted that the collectable debit for both the City of Lincoln and North Kesteven had increased from 2016/17 by £1.93m and £2.88m respectively.

Business rates

Compared to the same point in 2016/17, as at the end of quarter three, all three in-year business rates collections for which the shared service was responsible had improved, as follows:

·         City of Lincoln was up by 1.15%;

·         North Kesteven was up by 0.32%;

·         West Lindsey was up by 0.33%.

Tables set out at paragraphs 4.8 of the report highlighted the net collectable debit and total net receipt, when compared to the end of the third quarter of 2016/17.

Outstanding revenues customers

The number of outstanding revenues customers in the document imaging system had decreased significantly from quarter two to quarter three 2017/18. Lincoln had reduced from 624 to 80 and North Kesteven had reduced from 393 to 68, equating to a total of 148 outstanding items at the end of December 2017. This was a reduction of 290 from the figure at the end of December 2016. As at 20 February, the total had decreased slightly further to 125 with Lincoln totalling 74 and North Kesteven totalling 51.

Housing benefit overpayments

As at the end of quarter three 2017/18, in-period collections stood at 74.92% for Lincoln and 87.47% for North Kesteven which represented an ongoing positive performance in this area. However, despite the positive rates of in-period overpayments collection, the ongoing issue of outstanding level of overpayments continued.

Members were informed that the latest update to the end of January 2018 was 76.37% for Lincoln and 85.52% for North Kesteven.

It was recognised that, due to the higher level and demographic of caseload, a much higher level of housing benefit overpayment was raised for the City of Lincoln compared to North Kesteven. Up to the end of quarter three in 2017/18 the figures for housing benefit overpayments outstanding was £4,248,202 and £1,823,456 respectively.

Benefits performance

Outstanding assessment work had decreased by 31% from quarter two to quarter three in 2017/18, although the outstanding figure of 934 was higher than at the end of quarter three in 2016/17 which at that time was 829. Further information in relation to this was set out in a table at paragraph 5.1 of the report.

It was noted that average processing times, financial accuracy and customer satisfaction all continued to perform well.

It was reported that, overall, the benefits service was displaying positive performance, despite a raft of challenges and legislative and procedural changes largely due to the ongoing rollout of welfare reforms.