Agenda and minutes

Councillor L Haysey in the Chair.  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Tindale and S Crudgington (Strategic Director Resources – SBC).  There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Revenues and Benefits Committee held on 13 October 2014.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of held on 13 October 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee is requested to receive a report detailing the current position in the following areas:
o Performance Reporting
o Other Challenges
The Committee is further requested to agree recommendations that the Committee meet only once a year and that the Section 151 Officers complete the budget preparations for the Shared Service.

The Committee received a report detailing the current position in the following areas:

·               Performance Reporting

·               Other Challenges.

In addition the report contained proposals that the Committee move to an annual meeting schedule and that the S151 Officers continue to determine the budget proposals for the shared service.

The Committee was advised that the resizing proposal had been discussed at East Herts Council and was an agenda item for the meeting of the Executive at Stevenage Borough Council on 20 January.

The Committee was further advised that although there had been a marginal reduction in the number of cases referred from the DWP there had been a substantial increase in workload due to the complexity of those cases.

Members then asked a number of detailed questions with regard to the Spare Room Subsidy and the rules concerning the minimum size for bedrooms, which were answered by the Officers.  It was noted that the number of bedrooms per property was specified in the tenancy agreement for that property and could only be amended, through appeal, should that property become vacant.

Members commented on the good working relationships that had developed between the two Councils and the success of the shared service.  It was noted that this success had enabled the proposal to move to an annual meeting for the Committee and it was requested that thanks to all those involved in the process be recorded in the Minutes.

It was RESOLVED:

1.        That the report be received and noted.

2.        That the Committee meet annually in June, and

3.        That the responsibility to complete budget preparations for the shared service be delegated to the Section 151 Officers.

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

None.

To consider the following motions:
1. That under Section 100(A) 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 SI2006 No.88.
2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports (if any) 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 consider any Part II Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.