Skip Navigation Jobs go public website

• Home
• Accessibility
• Access Keys
• Site Map
• A to Z of Council Services
• Councillor Login
• Help
• Contact Us

Popular Tasks

• Find council jobs
• Search planning applications
• Contact the council
• Make A Payment
• Search what's on
• Find bin collection days
• Claim housing benefit
• Apply for a licence
• Register to vote
• Ask about pest control
• Find my councillor
• Report a fault
• Report abandoned cars
• Report housing repairs
• Have Your Say

• Full A-Z of council services

Contact Us

External Links

• Audit Commission
• Communities & Local Government

Revenues & Benefits - Policies & Performance

Responsible for the administration of Housing and Council Tax Benefits, the administration and collection of Council Tax and Business Rates and the investigation of Housing and Council Tax Benefit Fraud.

Services

• The administration of Housing and Council Tax Benefits (Benefits)
• The administration of Council Tax and Business Rates (Local Taxation)
• The investigation of Housing and Council Tax Benefit Fraud (Fraud)

Aims, Objectives and Outcomes

We aim to:

• Collect local taxes efficiently and fairly; 
• Administer housing and council tax benefit efficiently, fairly and securely; 
• Ensure financial propriety in all that the Council does; 
• Achieve and maintain good performance in respect of processing benefit , collecting Council Tax and Business Rates and in the detection of fraudulent activity;
• Provide a service that is courteous, equitable, accessible, easy to understand, cost-effective, speedy and accurate, safe and secure, reflective of the needs of local people and supportive of the rights of claimants to live in decent accommodation; 
• Ensure all services are accessible to all residents and businesses of the District; 
• Actively promote all available discounts, reliefs and benefits to all residents and businesses of the District;
• Provide a secure gateway to the benefits system for those who are entitled to it and actively discourage those who have fraudulent motives from entering the system.
  

Objectives	Outcomes
To promote the availability of financial assistance with rent and council tax and collect local taxes, fees and charges efficiently and fairly.	1) Maximum collection of Council Tax and Business Rates; 2) Contribute to reduction in fuel poverty in the area 3) Charge payers can pay in as many ways as possible. 4) Improve financial inclusion in the area 5) Charge payers can access services easily. 6) Local businesses receive more financial help as a result of our efforts to promote and encourage take up of entitlement.
To administer housing and council tax benefit speedily, accurately, fairly and securely.	1) Those residents in most financial need are identified, targeted and supported. 2) Claimants are paid the right amount of benefit at the right time. 3) High levels of user satisfaction. 4) Use the benefit system to help reduce homelessness and evictions.
To deal with Benefit Fraud thoroughly, fairly and effectively.	1) Minimise impact on public purse 2) Successfully prosecute fraudsters
To improve services and performance to meet customer needs and relevant national and local performance standards	1) Positive external audit reports 2) Good performance compared to similar councils and providers 3) High levels of user satisfaction.

Service Standards

In addition to our Customer Charter we have adopted the following service standards that you can expect from us.

Council Tax/Business Rates Collection

• Inform you each year of your annual Council Tax/Business Rate liability and provide details of how to pay, discounts, other entitlements and your rights of appeal. 
• Advise you if your account falls into arrears. 
• Make arrangements wherever appropriate to help you pay back your Council Tax/Business Rates arrears over an agreed period.
• Publish a Council Tax/NNDR summary leaflet in March each year and send to all households and businesses in the District.

Council Tax/Housing Benefit Administration

• Determine all applications for benefit within 36 days of receiving your claim. 
• Determine all completed applications within 14 days of receipt of all necessary information. 
• Process your change of circumstances within 14 days of you notifying us. 
• Inform you of how your claim has been determined and your rights of appeal. 
• Provide a contact name and direct dial number on our letters.
• Make personal visits in special circumstances to deal with enquiries or resolve problems.

Benefit Fraud Investigation

• Investigate all reports of benefit fraud promptly, fairly and confidentially.

Equalities

Under the General Public Sector Equality Duty (2010) we must :-

1. eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation;
2. advance equality of opportunity between different groups in the community; and
3. foster good relations within the local community

We carry out equality impact assessments (EIAs) for new or existing policies, strategies and services to see what effect they will have on different groups within our communities.  This helps us to identify potential consequences for these groups and ensure any negative impacts are eliminated or reduced.  They can also help us to identify actions to eliminate discrimination and promote positive relations between groups which are incorporated into our Departmental Service Plan.

Further information is available on our Equalities Policy and for copies of our Equality Impact Assessments.

Developing and Improving our Services

We have assessed the risks and the main drivers for change likely to impact the services during 2011/12:

National impacts

• The economic recession will place additional burdens on each of the services provided
• Businesses will find it harder to pay increased Business Rates Bills
• Households will find it more difficult to pay increased Council Tax Bills
• An increased demand for help with Rent and Council Tax through the benefits system
• The recession increases the potential for benefit fraud as more households find themselves struggling financially.
• The new coalition government has introduced proposals for welfare reform which directly impact on the provision of the Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Benefit Fraud functions of the Council;
• The new Public Sector Equality Duty;
• The introduction of internet-based technology to improve access to services to those able to do so.

Local impacts

• Political and organisational change following the District Council elections in May 2011;
• Pressure on budgets arising from a challenging savings target;
• Wider partnership working across different setors.

Performance, Progress and Forward Plans

We have reviewed our progress and performance last year.  A summary is provided here.

PDF
 Revenues and Benefits Division – Service Plan 2010/11 – Progress and Performance Report  (0.17mb)

Our detailed plans for the year ahead are set out below along with an overview of our service level resources. This Plan will be monitored regularly;
 Revenues and Benefits Division – Service Plan 2011/12 (0.02mb)

Department Policies & Strategies

We publish the details of how we organise and decide the various aspects of our work. The policies list the rules we work to and the strategies show what we are planning to achieve and how. 

PDF
 Benefits Service Policy and Strategy (mb)

PDF
 Local Housing Allowance - Safeguard Policy (mb)

• Share this page:  
•  Facebook
•  Twitter
•  StumbleUpon
•  Delicious
•  Reddit