Agenda item

Purpose of Report

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

Decision

That the report be noted.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

Council Tax

Annual outturns had increased by 0.08% for the City of Lincoln Council and 0.06% for North Kesteven District Council. It was noted that 2017/18 was the first year that the City of Lincoln Council made changes to its Localised Council Tax Support Scheme, reducing the level of support in some cases.

In considering the current collection levels, it was noted that the collectable debit for both the City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council had increased from 2016/17 by £1.98 million and £2.86 million respectively.

In terms of the new financial year, 2018/19, as at the end of April 2018 Council Tax in-year collection had increased for both the City of Lincoln and North Kesteven by 0.16% and 0.03% respectively.

Business Rates

Annual outturns compared to 2016/17 were noted as follows:

·         City of Lincoln – 0.56% down;

·         North Kesteven – 0.80% up;

·         West Lindsey – 1.19% up.

Although the City of Lincoln Council’s in-year collection rate decreased, this was mainly due to some large rateable value schedules coming back from the Valuation Office Agency in March 2018, which were input by officers thereby increasing the debit due considerably without a realistic expectation of payment coming in during the current financial year.

Tables in paragraph 4.9 of the report outlined how ‘net collectible debit’ and ‘total net receipt’ compared for each local authority between 2016/17 and 2017/18.

In terms of the new financial year, 2018/19, as at the end of April 2018 business rates in-year collection compared to April 2017 as follows:

·         City of Lincoln – 0.68% up;

·         North Kesteven – 3.91% up;

·         West Lindsey – 2.44% down.

Outstanding Revenues Customers

The number of outstanding revenues customers as at the end of quarter four in 2017/18 showed a very positive position, as outlined in the table at paragraph 4.12 of the report. The key reasons for this were mainly due to the implementation of a number of integrated e-forms during 2017/18, but also a temporary agency resource in place during quarter four to help assist with the predictable increased demand on the team during this period.

Housing Benefit Overpayments

In-period collection as at April 2018 stood at 127.34% for the City of Lincoln and 120.73% for North Kesteven, meaning that more monies had been recovered than raised.

Although in-period Housing Benefit overpayments collection figures remained positive, as demonstrated in the table at paragraph 4.15 of the report, the rising level of outstanding overpayments continued.

A separate item on this issue had been considered by the Joint Committee at this meeting.

Benefits Performance

As at the end of April 2018, benefits customers outstanding figures, split by those who were already in progress against those which had not yet started to be processed, showed that there were 630 claims where the case had not yet been looked at. It was noted that it was a real day-to-day challenge, with decreasing grants from central government also having an impact, to maintain the position of assessing Housing Benefit and Council Tax support claims in a timely and accurate manner whilst also providing vital support to Universal Credit customers. The allocation of resources to a variety of demands would very much be at the forefront of officers’ minds moving forward, particularly with Sleaford Jobcentre moving to Universal Credit Full Service in November 2018.

Housing Benefit average processing times were positive and competitive against the national position, with the most recent data available relating to quarter three with the average for new claims being 22 days and 9 days for changes of circumstance.

It was reported that the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service had been shortlisted as finalists for the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation Awards 2018 in the following categories:

·         Benefits and Welfare Reform Team of the Year;

·         Most Improved Team of the Year;

·         Excellence in Partnership Working.

Further updates would be provided to the Joint Committee in due course.