COUNCIL TAX WORKING GROUP: 26 JANUARY 2005: MINUTES OF MEETING: 21 OCTOBER 2004: Paper 05/02
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Present:
Scottish Executive Nikola Plunkett
Billy McKenzie
Anna Gilbert
Neil White
Communities Scotland Alastair Dee
Neil Mackinnon
COSLA Allan Traynor
James Thomson
SFHA Linda Ewart
Agenda Item 1: Apologies
1. Apologies were received from Mike Peterson and Elaine McCue both from COSLA.
Agenda Item 2: Minutes from Last Meeting
2. The minutes from the last meeting were agreed, however it was pointed out that the meeting to be arranged with COSLA to discuss the Paying For Water Services consultation was still outstanding. Billy McKenzie agreed to contact Water Services Unit regarding this.
Agenda Item 3: Unoccupied dwelling discount regulations and guidance
3. Billy McKenzie advised the group that the regulations were presently with solicitors for amendment. The latest draft would be ready shortly and would be passed to members for final comment before being laid in Parliament.
4. There followed a general discussion surrounding the outline guidance document tabled at the meeting and the document was amended in light of the comments made. The group were advised that the guidance was yet to be approved by Ministers and was therefore still liable for change.
5. It was agreed that the Scottish Executive would amend the guidance based on comments received and recirculate, before passing to COSLA housing officials to ensure they were content with the approach outlined in the document . Final comments on the revised guidance should be sent to Billy McKenzie by noon on Friday 29 October 2004, the amended guidance would then be passed to COSLA for close of play that day. COSLA would provide feedback on the guidance no later than Friday 5 November.
6. COSLA raised the issue of changes to software systems as a result of the new policy. They requested that local authorities who have to allocate additional resources to enhance their systems either cover this extra cost by using some of the revenue from reducing the discount, or that the Scottish Executive allocates additional funding. It was agreed that COSLA would seek details from local authorities regarding the financial impact of any required changes and supply these details to the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Executive would then approach Ministers about this issue.
7. Alastair Dee, Neil Mackinnon, and Linda Ewart were thanked for their contribution and left at this point.
Agenda Item 4: Council tax collection levels
8. Nikola Plunkett asked the remainder of the group whether there was potential for councils to join up in respect of council tax collection and whether a central collection point was feasible or not. There was a general discussion around the issue and it was suggested that although this approach would have clear benefits, important issues to bear in mind would include how to address the different approaches and practices of different councils to debt collection; the complexity of Council Tax Benefits and their inter-relationship with other benefits; and software compatibility.
9. The issue of collecting water charges along with council tax was also raised as one of the possible factors behind Scottish collection rates being lower than England and Wales, given that down south there is separate billing. COSLA noted that both they and Scottish Water had spoken to the Executive at an officer level about the option and implications of moving to separate billing and collection by Scottish Water. This could also increase the accountability and efficiency of Scottish Water to the public.
10. James Thomson asked if money coming from efficiency savings made as a result of improved collection rates would remain with local government.. It was confirmed that the Scottish Executive's position on efficiency savings were that any savings would be ploughed back into frontline services, which in turn could help to reduce council tax levels.
11. The discussion of this issue was concluded with the point being made that although councils are not averse to change, the benefit system implications would be a significant hurdle to overcome before this could be taken forward.
Agenda Item 5: Sharing best practice on debt recovery
12. Billy McKenzie informed the group that to date there had been 2 responses on this issue. He asked that responses be submitted by the week ending 29th October and the issue would be followed up at the next meeting.
Agenda Item 6: Self-catering establishments and care homes
13. Regarding care homes Allan Traynor stated that although he was happy with the issued letter from the Scottish Executive on this matter the issue had been raised several times by local authorities. Although hard evidence had not been supplied to date it was agreed that the Scottish Executive would keep an eye on this and that Billy McKenzie would contact Lynn Brady of Perth and Kinross council to discuss this further and determine whether there were any statistics available that would help to measure the extent of the problem, if there was one.
Agenda Item 7: Membership of CTWG
14. Nikola Plunkett asked if there was a need to invite more people to the working group. She informed the group that the Society of Messengers at Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO) had shown an interest in being included in the working group. Allan Traynor expressed his reservations as members of SMASO are employed by councils and act on behalf of councils to execute diligence. He stated that he had no problem with them being invited on specific issues surrounding diligence or as required and it was agreed that where it was useful SMASO would be invited to attend meetings of the Group.
15. It was brought to the attention of the group that Glasgow City Council did not appear to be aware of the existence of the CTWG and had expressed their wish to join. The members of COSLA expressed their surprise at Glasgow being unaware of the group as the minutes from the CTWG are issued to the Directors of Finance of all local authorities. James Thomson agreed that COSLA would contact Glasgow City Council along with another 2 or 3 local authorities regarding representation on the group and that he would report back.
Agenda Item 8: Communicating the work of the group
16. Nikola Plunkett informed the group that the Local Taxation website will go public in November and that a section would be dedicated to the CTWG. which would include the publication of the minutes. It was also agreed that papers of the Group could be circulated to all local authority Directors of Finance and Heads of Revenue for comment in advance of future meetings. Comments could be forwarded to COSLA for discussion at meetings.
Agenda Item 9: Any other business
17. None.
Agenda Item 10: Date of next meeting
18. It was agreed that the next meeting should be in mid January 2005, Anna Gilbert would contact members to arrange a convenient date.
Action:
19. The following action points were agreed:
Scottish Executive:
- Billy McKenzie to contact William Fleming regarding arranging a meeting with COSLA to discuss Paying For Water Services consultation.
- Billy McKenzie to contact Lynn Brady of Perth and Kinross Council for examples of problems with care homes.
- Anna Gilbert to confirm date of next meeting.
COSLA
- James Thomson to contact Glasgow City Council along with another 2 or 3 local authorities regarding representation on the CTWG.
- COSLA to obtain details regarding the cost of any software changes as a result of the new policy and submit these to the Scottish Executive for consideration.
Scottish Executive
October 2004