Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

This report provides an update on the activity of the Revenues and Benefits Unit set out in the September 2023 Scrutiny Report. The report covers benefits administration; the financial support provided by the Household Support Fund scheme; performance in the collection of Council Tax; performance in the collection of Business Rates; and data for the 2023/24 financial year and available data to show activity between 1 April and 31 July of the 2024/25 financial year. 

The committee considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive which provided an update on the activity of the Revenues and Benefits Unit since the last report to the committee in September 2023. 

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Key points and themes within the reports included: 

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·       Benefits administration, including Council Tax Support and the management of the Welfare Provision Scheme and other discretionary schemes; 

·       The financial support provided by the Household Support Fund scheme; 

·       Performance in the collection of Council Tax and how the Council balances collection whilst working in an ethical way and supporting those residents on a low income; 

·       Performance in the collection of Business Rates; 

·       The ongoing financial support provided to businesses through various Business Rates Reliefs and grants; and  

·       Data for the 2023/24 financial year and available data to show activity between 1 April and 31 July of the 2024/25 financial year. 

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Some of the key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussion included: 

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·       Could the Council identify people entitled to pension credits that do not make a claim to encourage an uptake; 

·       Noting the lengthy claim form for pension credits, and querying whether the Council can administer this without a resident needing to apply; and  

·       How the extended Household Support Scheme would work and for how long.  

The Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report and explained that the Revenues and Benefits Unit played an important role in both supporting residents and businesses and the Council’s revenue, which helped to deliver on priorities, responsibilities and duties.  

The Head of Corporate Assessments stated that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was responsible for administering pension credits and were best placed to identify and engage with those eligible to receive these. He stated that the Council was supporting a national DWP campaign to encourage an uptake in pension credit claimants and to raise awareness of eligibility and had recently reviewed locally held data and was exploring the possibility of working with external organisations who could offer a means to identify residents. A meeting with one external organisation was scheduled for the next week.  

The Head of Corporate Assessments stated that the Council could not provide direct support to residents when applying for pension credits but explained that there would be external support agencies and mechanisms available for this.  

The committee was advised that further funding had been allocated through the Household Support Fund (HSF) between October 2024 and March 2025. This was anticipated to operate in the same way as previous tranches, but no formal guidance had been received. The Head of Corporate Assessments commented that this funding might be earmarked to meeting cost-of-living pressures or to specifically target elderly residents impacted by the winter fuel payment reduction. The Deputy Chief Executive highlighted that a Key Decision relating to HSF may need to be taken under urgency procedures and exempt from call-in due to time constraints which was in line with previous decisions over this funding.  

In concluding the item, the Executive Member for Finance and Resources highlighted the enormous amount of work undertaken by the Revenues and Benefits Unit for residents most in need of support and he welcomed the extension of the Household Support Fund.  

Decision: 

1.     To note the report. 

2.     To recommend that personas be developed similar to those developed as part of the RBDxP programme, to raise awareness of eligibility for support and to encourage uptake.