Minutes:
The Chairman informed the Committee that he had requested that an item of Urgent Business in connection with the Review of Single Person Discounts for Council Tax be considered at the meeting. In view of the concern raised in the local press and by residents, the Chairman suggested that it was appropriate to include this item to the agenda. A supplementary briefing note by the Head of Revenue Services had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting and the Head of Revenue Services together with the Leader of the Council had been invited to present the item.
The Head of Revenue Services outlined the previous administrative procedures for establishing entitlement to single person Council Tax discount and informed the Committee that this year, to improve efficiency, it had been agreed to engage in a trial scheme together with three other local authorities and Experian, the consumer and business information data base holder.
It was reported that from a financial point of view the experiment was proving to be beneficial. Early indications indicated that of the 4868 letters issued, 3309 had been returned and 481 (10%) had informed the council they were no longer entitled to the discount. Further checks with Experian would look into the 2990 who, by completing part (b), had indicated they were still entitled to the discount, but where Experian had identified two names associated with the property. It was noted that 1200 forms had yet to be returned and these would be followed up.
With regard to complaints, it was reported that 143 complaints had been received (2.9%). The other authorities had also reported a similar percentage of complaints; Chorley 3.7%, Preston 2.7% and South Ribble 2.5%.
The Leader of the Council outlined how the rationale of the exercise had been supported by Star Chamber, and reported to the Budget and Performance Panel. It was noted that although the Leader and the Cabinet member with special responsibility were aware that a letter would be circulated, they had no input into, and had not seen, the wording of the letter. Whilst it was suggested that the principle of the exercise was right, in retrospect although a strong letter was required, more sensitive wording could have been included.
The Chairman invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to ask questions or make any observations.
Questions were raised concerning the administrative process and the complaints procedure, and observations were made with regard to the distress caused to a number of claimants.
In response to whether the exercise would be repeated, the Leader of Council informed Members that there would be a Gershon efficiency in relation to this exercise and this would be reviewed and reported on before any decision was made.
It was proposed by Councillor Langhorn, seconded by Councillor Kerr and unanimously agreed:
(b) “That consideration be made of how complaints are dealt with by Experian and the Council.”
Resolved:
(a) That at the conclusion of the exercise the Head of Revenue Services send a letter of apology to all recipients of the letter whose claim for single person discounts is
upheld.
(b) That consideration be made of how complaints are dealt with by Experian
and the Council.”