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 and an update be presented at the next meeting of this Committee on 22 June 2021.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

The report provided information on Revenues performance with regard to Council Tax for the City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council, together with business rates in respect of the City of Lincoln Council, North Kesteven District Council and West Lindsey District Council. This provided figures for the current year 2020/21 up to the end of Quarter 3 2020/21, including annual outturn Revenues and Benefits performance for 2019/20.

Performance continued to be impacted by Covid-19 – a separate report on the impacts on Revenues and Benefits was included on today’s Committee Agenda. Officers had proactively responded to Covid-19, including;

-       Reduced levels of recovery action being taken in the first half of 2020/21 – only courts dates for summoned monies had been available (on 16^th December 2020 and 21^st January 2021);

-       Deferrals of Council Tax and Business Rates payments being permitted;

-       Processing a significant increase in Housing Benefit and Council Tax

-       Support claims, and Universal Credit related documents;

-       Assessment and award of new government reliefs and grants

The Revenues and Benefits Shared Service had now been in operation since 1^st June 2011, and performance had been maintained and improved whilst continuing to provide value for money. Continual improvement and success was being achieved in terms of both statistical and financial performance, as well as positive outcomes for customers of the partner local authorities. However, the Covid-19 global pandemic had understandably impacted on some areas of performance, - these impacts were likely to continue for many more months due to the cumulative effect of Covid-19 on household and business incomes.

In respect of Council Tax, up to the end of Quarter 3 2020/21, in-year collection was down for both the City of Lincoln and North Kesteven by 2.83% and 1.47% respectively, compared to the same point in 2019. Members were further updated that as at the end of January 2021 in-year collection was down for both the City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven by 2.69% and 1.35% respectively, compared to the same point in 2019.

In respect of Business Rates, up to the end of Quarter 3 2020/21 (compared to the end of Quarter 2 2019/20), 2020/21 in-year collection was up by 7.03% for Lincoln, but down by 0.78% and 1.01% for North Kesteven and West Lindsey respectively. Members were further updated that as at the end of January 2021 (compared to the end of Quarter 2 2019/20), 2020/21 in-year collection was up by 2.92% for Lincoln, but down by 2.10% and 1.36% for North Kesteven and West Lindsey respectively.

The Lincoln figure in particular by the demographic of business types, remained somewhat ‘skewed’ by the new reliefs available this year in light of the new measures announced as part of the government’s Covid-19 response, predominantly the Expanded Retail Discount.

Further information relating to outstanding revenues customers and housing benefit overpayments was set out in the report. The latest figures as at the end of Quarter 3 2020/21 indicated that outstanding revenues stood at a total of 1,309 of which 936 were from the City of Lincoln and 373 were from North Kesteven. Although this figure had increased in recent months, this was as a direct result of the first and second Covid-19 national lockdowns ending and house moves increasing resulting in increased enquiries to the Revenues Team, as well as a temporary reduction in the level of staffing resources on the team due to unforeseen circumstances.

In terms of benefits performance, the table at paragraph 5.2 of the report highlighted the time to process benefit claims at the end of Quarter 3 2020/21 for new claims compared to the end of Quarter 3 2019/20 showed the City of Lincoln performing at 16.72 days and North Kesteven performing at 14.98 days. In relation to changes of circumstances the time to process benefit claims at the end of Quarter 3 2020/21 compared to the end of Quarter 3 2019/20 showed the City of Lincoln Council performing at 4.27 days and North Kesteven performing at 3.10 days. The latest figures as at the end of January 2021 showed the City of Lincoln performing at 16.84 days for new claims and 4.11 days for changes of circumstances. North Kesteven as at the end of January 2021 were performing at 15.07 days for new claims and 3.07 days for changes in circumstances.

Provision of welfare and benefit advice given continued to be key with a team of dedicated and knowledgeable officers providing invaluable support to residents of Lincoln, as set out in further detail within the table at Paragraph 6.2 of the officer’s report.