Issue - meetings

Report FSD18052

The Committee considered Liberata’s performance for Revenues Services in the six months to 31st March 2018. A letter from Liberata’s Contract Director appended to the report provided an update on each service. Liberata representatives were also present for the item.

The in-year Council Tax collection rate for 2017/8 was 98.04%, a 0.12% improvement on that achieved in the previous financial year.

In discussion the Chairman noted that the best performance in 11 years was reflected at Appendix 2 of the report.  The Committee extended its congratulations to Liberata for the good performance.

A Member suggested that where high percentages were referred to in the report it would be helpful to have the sum in pounds as well as percentages.  The Director of Finance confirmed that this would be actioned for future reports.

A Member also noted that some Council Tax arrears, reflected in Appendix 2 of the report, dated back to 1993.  The Member questioned when the arrears would be written off.  In response, the Head of Revenues and Benefits reported that this was dependant on the ability of the Local Authority to trace the individuals concerned.  Some of the longer-term amounts could also relate to small amounts that were being recovered every year through taxable earnings.  The Chairman reported that he had requested that the lines showing zero in Appendix 2 be removed from the table.  The Chairman further noted that the sum total of the arrears for 1999, 2002, and 2006 was 32p.  At the conclusion of the meeting the Chairman paid the Director of Finance 32p in order to clear three years of Council Tax arrears and requested that these lines be removed from Appendix 2.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The report and the letter from Liberata at Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

2.   Liberata be congratulated for the best performance in 11 years.