Issue - meetings

The Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service submitted an annual update report in relation to the following areas:

·                        Performance reporting

·                        Other challenges

·                        Budget outturn

The Head of the Shared Service said that it had been an interesting year and, in respect of housing benefits, it had been a year of best performance for both Councils. She said that there had been 24,000 additional items of work and Officers had processed the additional work without any unnecessary waiting for customers.

Members were advised that the shared service was there to help people and the increasing level of work was a concern. The Head of the Shared Service said that the frequency of changes was increasing due to the instability of income being experienced by some residents. She also highlighted the national reduction in respect of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).

Members were advised that Officers were doing everything they could to keep residents in their own homes due to the impact re-housing had on the Council’s finances and also on the resident circumstances. The Head of the Shared Service referred to the impact of Universal Credit being ongoing and continuous. She said that the housing benefit caseload continued to fall and the impact of those returning to housing benefit after reaching retirement would affect caseload for a considerable period of time.

Members were advised that despite increasing numbers of properties Officers had done amazing work in supporting residents who had been struggling with the pressures of coping with the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and council tax payments.

The Head of the Shared Service praised the work of the Officers who had supported residents under pressure in respect of meeting council tax payments. She referred to support that had been given to customers in allowing tolerances in terms of payment deferrals for council tax.

Members were advised that the 2020/21 combined collectable debt for East Herts Council (EHC) and Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) had increased by over £8.1m.

The Head of the Shared Service advised Members of the impact of empty homes on the Council. The Assistant Director of Finance (SBC) said that the number of empty homes was much lower in Stevenage Borough.

Members were given a detailed update in respect of the position in respect of business rates and were advised that the total value of grants and values paid out since March 2020 was £44m for Stevenage and £76m for East Herts.

Members were urged to utilise their community links and inform Officers of any businesses in need of support. The Head of the Shared Service said that Officers were talking to communities to establish where help was needed the most.

The Assistant Director of Finance thanked Officers for their efforts and hard work. The Shared Service Manager (Business Rates) said that it had been a difficult year but Officers had got through the worst period.

The Shared Service Manager (Council Tax) said that the appreciation and thank you messages that had been received from businesses were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6