REPORT OF THE CUSTOMER & SUPPORT SERVICES SCRUTINY
Feedback from the meeting
– 22 October 2007
Recommendations: Actions: That John Tanner returns to the November meeting to provide feedback on
the council tax proposals.
Scrutiny Support will; organise for further information on attendance
management from Urban Vision and school based staff for the November
meeting. To organise the attendance of an officer from Community, Health
and Social Care to attend the meeting in February 2008 regarding
attendance management.
Scrutiny Support will; liaise with John Tanner re the presentation of the draft
Customer Access Strategy at the November meeting.
Scrutiny support will; gain further information pertaining to attendance
management from Urban Vision, Community Health and Social Care and
school based staff.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This report concerns the matters considered by C&SS Scrutiny on 22 October 2007
Issues considered were: Council Tax Collection rate.
 Attendance management information
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
These can be found on SOLAR
CONTACT OFFICER: Karen Lucas, Senior Scrutiny Support Officer
Tel: 793 3318 email: Karen.lucas@salford.gov.uk
WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S):
KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
All
Council Tax Collection
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DETAILS
1. Council tax proposals.
At the last meeting in September members requested officers return in October to
discuss the development of proposals for improving council tax collection.
It was also agreed that officers would also provide a monthly update to keep
members informed of progress.
John provided a report outlining various proposals, which includes reallocation of
payments - pilot to be implemented, using the costs awarded by the court as a
bargaining tool - pilot to be implemented, the use of committal proceedings for non
payment, the use of bankruptcy proceedings – work is presently ongoing with the
legal section and access to payroll records – This would only be in the event of
arrears existing. Data protection criteria would need to clarified and liaison with the
unions.
Very few authorities do discounts, which are mainly aimed at those people who can
pay, not those who find it difficult.
The authority has now signed up with Experian who trace absconders’ who have not
paid their council tax.
Tenders will shortly be considered for the bailiff contract.
Debt advice is highlighted regularly throughout the process to those who are not
paying their council tax.
A mobile service has recently been launched that will visit various communities
throughout the city, that provides debt advice and has access to all relevant
information and personal records.
John informed members that they are presently compiling a customer access
strategy for the call centre.
Agreed:
1.1 Members agreed that they would like further information at the November
meeting pertaining to the proposals presently being piloted.
1.2 Members requested that officers go ahead and clarify the data protection
legislation with regards to access to payroll records, dependant on the upshot of
the legislation liaise with the appropriate unions. This is prior to any
recommendations being made by the scrutiny committee.
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2. Attendance Management.
Members received comparative data for 2005/06 and 2006/07. Further information
was requested based on the following matters:
 Urban Vision – attendance management figures have increased from
7.9 to 9.6. To gain a response for the November meeting as to the
reasons why.
 School Based – attendance management figures have dropped from
8.1 to 7.8. To clarify for the November meeting whether they are
managing attendance management differently.
 Community, Health and Social Care – attendance management for this
directorate remains a concern. To invite officers to the February 2008
meeting to discuss further. Figures have increased from 16.5 to 18.3.
Members requested that any subsequent attendance management figures
distinguish between long and short term absences.
3. Report from previous meeting.
Agreed
4. Work programme.
Agreed.
5. Forward plan.
No issues raised.
6. Any Other Business
None.
7. The next meeting is Monday 24 November at 2pm at the Civic Centre.
There will be a briefing for members only at 1.30pm
Please note there will not be a meeting in December unless an urgent issue
needs to be considered.
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