Issue - meetings

Report FSD17094

Members considered a report which provided information concerning Liberata’s performance in the provision of Exchequer Services for the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017.  A letter from Liberata’s Regional Contract Director provided an update on each individual service together with statistical data relating to the Services.

The Head of Exchequer Services tabled a supplementary document which provided a revision to Table 4 including a breakdown of the figures relating to Write Offs.  The document also provided information concerning the number of temporary accommodation placement and nightly paid accommodation charges.

A Member noted that there were 4 staff monitoring the Liberata contract and questioned whether this was consistent with other local authorities.  The Head of Exchequer Services confirmed that it was a thin client unit at LB Bromley and that the 4 members of staff had other responsibilities in addition to contract monitoring. 

The Vice-Chairman noted that BT’s debts did not appear to be reducing.  The Director of Corporate Services highlighted that BT encompassed a number of subsidiary companies and that BT and Open Reach were in fact different companies.  Discussions had now taken place with Open Reach and the debt was reducing.  The issue had been referred to the Environment PDS Committee for a review of historic debt.  The Chairman of the Environment PDS Committee confirmed that this had been considered at the last meeting of Environment PDS and the Committee was reassured that the debt had reduced and appropriate processes were now in place.  A further update would be provided to the next meeting of the Environment PDS Committee.

Reviewing Graph 1 on the supplementary information that had been tabled, a Member queried the trigger in Quarter 3 2014/15 for the steady increase in temporary accommodation placements.  The Head of Exchequer Services responded that she would need to seek information from colleagues in the Housing Service and would provide the information to Members following the meeting.

Action Point 13: That information surrounding the trigger in Quarter 3 2014/15 for the steady increase in temporary accommodation placements be provided following the meeting.

A Member noted that Thames Water would be doing further works across the Borough in the New Year and questioned whether there were good systems in place for dealing with disputed debt with Thames Water.  Representatives from Liberata responded that they made sure that service department were provided with the information they needed to assess the risk of a large debt building up.  As Liberata did not have a contractual relationship with Thames Water it was down to the service department to manage any debt.

RESOLVED: That the report and update from Liberata be noted.