Issue - items at meetings - Income Collection and Recovery 2009/10 - Quarter 3

Report of the Director of Finance & Resources (copy to follow)

1.       That the report be noted.

34.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Finance & Resources, which updated the Member on the income collection and recovery performance for 2009/10 as at quarter 3 (December 2009) and highlighted the improvement and best practice actions (for copy see minute book). 

34.2    The Cabinet Member stated that the report provided assurance to Council Tax payers, citizens and businesses that the council kept on top of its income collection performance and, in this way, it helped reduce any potential impact on future Council Tax levels by collecting and recovering income and debts effectively. She noted that performance continued to hold up relatively well and that Council Tax, business rates and other forms of income collection remained largely on target despite the difficult economic conditions for many people and businesses.

34.3    The Cabinet Member congratulated the income collection teams for continuing to improve the information and services available to customers and noted that she was pleased to see that new processes were being developed to enable quicker capturing and sharing of information, which could provide potentially quicker access to benefits for housing tenants and other benefit applicants. 

34.4    The Assistant Director, Financial Services, referred to paragraph 3.8.3 of the report and indicated that this section should be deleted from the report. He stated that the information therein referred to an older report and was not relevant to this current report. The Assistant Director also referred to the information given on sundry debts and housing benefit. He stated that there were no real concerns in those areas at this stage, as they were expected to meet the targets.

34.5    The Opposition Spokesperson commented on the direct debit performance and noted that the take up for this service had not increased as much as it had been predicted. He also referred to housing benefit charges and sought clarification as to whether there was a directive to establish when people were contacted for making payments.  

34.6    The Assistant Director indicated that the service had a charter mark, which explained to customers when any recovery would be made. He noted, however, that he did not have much information about what those deadlines were and agreed to find out the information and convey it to the Opposition Spokesperson directly.

34.7    The Opposition Spokesperson also sought clarification about the regulation in place in terms of time limit before the council contacts residents to pursue arrears.  The Assistant Director explained that there was no time limit as such, since the council could collect arrears for as much back as necessary.

34.8    RESOLVED - That the report be noted.