Issue - meetings

Report FSD22092

The report provided information regarding Liberata’s performance in the provision of Exchequer Services for the period 1st April 2022 to 30th September 2022 with an updated position as at 30th November 2022.  A letter from Amanda Inwood-Field, Liberata’s Contract Director, provided an update on each individual service and was attached at Appendix 1 of the report with statistical data relating to the services shown in subsequent appendices.

In opening the discussion, a Member asked that for future reports the graphs presented be reformatted to make them easier to understand.

In response to a question from the Chairman, representatives from Liberata explained that in October there had been a large number of invoices for the NHS.  Members noted that Bromley’s policy was that invoices were paid immediately on receipt whilst the NHS had a longer turn-around time.  The Committee requested that details of the average payment time for NHS invoices be provided in the next report.  The Chairman suggested that it may also be helpful to review the legislation and remind the NHS of their duty to pay invoices on time.

The Committee discussed the issue of disputes and Members noted that it was not unusual for disputes to be raised.  Ultimately, only the service department could resolve disputes and the Council would normally ask that any element not of an invoice not in dispute be paid.  The Assistant Director for Exchequer Services highlighted that in the last year the level of disputes had reduced by 16%.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.