Issue - meetings

Report FSD18051

The Committee considered a report outlining the performance of the benefit services provided by Liberata between 1st October 2017 and 31 March 2018. A letter from Liberata’s Contract Director appended to the report provided Liberata’s assessment of performance. Liberata were represented at the meeting for the item.

In opening the discussion the Chairman noted that the trend in terms of targets was good.

A Member noted that the change in circumstance assessments that were processed in February and March distorted the figures reflected in the report and suggested that the point should be addressed in the retendering of the new contract.  In response the Head of Revenues and Benefits reported that when the targets were initially set it was known that there would be a large volume in February and March and this was reflected in the targets.

In response to a question the Chairman confirmed that the Local Authority would not be consulting on 100% exemption for Care Leavers.

Councillor Ian Dunn moved a motion that Care Leavers be 100% exempt from Council Tax until the age of 25.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Angela Wilkins.  The motion was put to a vote and was LOST.

In response to a question concerning whether the Universal Credit Advice HUB would be operational when the Universal Credit ‘Full service’ started on 25^th July 2018, the Head of Revenues and Benefits reported that the Local Authority would be ready however the operation of the HUB was dependant on third parties over which the Local Authority had no control.

The Chairman noted the good performance in relation to the error rate and asked whether a ‘soft’ target of 4% could be considered given that errors were found in less than 5% of the cases checked by the Authority’s monitoring team.  Representatives from Liberata confirm that a ‘soft’ target of 4% could be considered.

RESOLVED: That

1.   The report and letter provided by Liberata be noted;

2.   A consultation exercise be held in August 2018 for the Authority’s 2019/20 Council Tax Support/Reduction scheme based on the scheme being the same as currently in place (i.e. the maximum contribution of working age claimants remaining at 25% of a household’s Council Tax liability;

3.  That consideration be given to a ‘soft’ target of 4% for error rates; and

4.  The Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that the scheme to be recommended in the consultation exercise for the Authority’s 2019/20 Council Tax Support/Reduction scheme be the same as currently in place.