Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

Nominations were requested for the appointment of the Chair of the Joint Revenues and Benefits Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd be appointed Chair for the meeting.

It was RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Joan Lloyd be appointed as Chair of the Joint Revenues and Benefits Committee for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

Apologies for absence were received by Councillor Chris Wilson.

Apologies were also received by Su Tarran, Head of the Shared Services.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Revenues and Benefits Executive Committee held on 20 October 2022.

It was RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 20 October 2022 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

The Committee received a report in relation to the Shared Revenue and Benefits Service for 2022/23. The report updated Members on the performance of the service during the year, the in-year challenges and the 2022/23 budget outturn position.

Members expressed their thanks to the Officers for their work over the previous year and the way they had dealt with the various challenges over the past few years.

The Systems, Support and Control Manager stated that the teams had a busy year and both Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) and East Herts District Council (EHDC) were performing well.

The Chair asked a question relating to debt and when it was written off. The Systems, Support and Control Manager advised that the team worked through a strict recovery process. When they had exhausted all options, the debt is written off, however this process took several years.

The Chair asked a question relating to the value of debt rising and asked whether the team was managing with the staff they had and how quickly they could respond to changes. She also asked whether the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were more responsive. The Systems, Support and Control Manager advised that the overpayment team were very static, reactive and they were well staffed. She added that the responsiveness of the DWP was back on track.

Another Member asked questions relating to council tax and council tax allowances. The Benefits Manager advised that the government allocated a certain amount of money to each Council for the discretionary housing fund budget. This was used when residents had a shortfall in housing benefits, such as rent arrears due to financial difficulties. This money was given out for short periods of time until residents can manage again. The team looked at whether to award benefits case by case. They also monitor each month how much of the budget had been spent. He concluded the discretionary housing fund was useful and helped a lot of residents.

The Chair asked why the collection rates were decreasing. The Revenue Manager advised that the overall rate was for each Council and this was then broken down by category. Those who were on benefits were struggling to achieve their payment of council tax.

The Chair suggested there should be a review of the 8.5% liability number for council tax. The Systems, Support and Control Manager advised that it would not be cost effective to change this, but it was important to keep it in review. Another Member added there was a similar review happening in East Herts.

A Member asked whether there was a report on the progress and options of this update. The Systems, Support and Control Manager advised this went to Overview and Scrutiny at East Herts, with SBC Members agreeing this would also go to Overview and Scrutiny at Stevenage.

The Chair asked how often the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) checked on the work the team was completing. The Benefits Manager advised that the DWP only checked at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was none.

To consider the following motions –

1. That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Revenues and Benefits Executive Committee held on 20 October 2022.

It was RESOLVED: That the Part II Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 20 October 2022 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

To consider any Part 2 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was none.