Issue - meetings

Report FSD18053

The Committee considered Liberata’s performance in the provision of Exchequer Services for the period 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018. A letter from Liberata’s Contract Director appended to the provided an update on individual services.

The Committee emphasised that British Telecom (BT)  needed to be encouraged to settle its debt.  The Head of Exchequer Services confirmed that Officers continued to negotiate with BT and the level of debt had been reducing.  A review of recent case law was now being undertaken in order to identify whether at least part of the debt could be recovered.

A Member noted that Appendices 2 and 3 to the report appeared to indicate that this year, whilst there were fewer invoices, the level of outstanding debt was increasing.  In response the Head of Exchequer Services confirmed that there were fewer invoices outstanding but that the value of these outstanding invoices was greater than in previous years.

A Member noted that a large number of payments were made by cheques which carried an additional cost to the Council.  The Head of Exchequer Services confirmed that Officers were doing all they could to convert as many of these payments to BACS as possible.  However there were certain payments which could only be made by cheque such as Counsel fees for legal advice or refunds to individuals.  The Local Authority had been reviewing all the options and consideration was being given to removing the facility to pay for any services received by cheque.  The Committee requested that a paper setting out the options and considerations for paying for services received by the Council be presented to the Committee in October.

Action Point 8: That a paper setting out the options and considerations for paying for services received by the Council be presented to the Committee in October.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.