Agenda and minutes

To consider the minutes of the last meeting and update any matters arising

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 11th December, 2006.

Reference was made to the following minutes:-

(a) Minute No. 51 - it was noted that the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel had received a report regarding the Trade Justice Policy and had asked for information about the impact on our procurement practices, and for regular six monthly updates. Rotherham was the first local authority to adopt such a policy and was receiving national and international attention.

(b) Minute No. 52 - it was confirmed that the Members’ seminar about the Local Government Ombudsman had been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 27^th March, 2007 at 9.00 a.m., at RotherhamTown Hall.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th December, 2006, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive, RBT

The Chief Executive, RBT, submitted a report on the progress and performance of RBT for November, 2006, highlighting:-

-     the Customer Service Centre within the Civic Building completed its first year of operation on 24^th November, 2006;

-     the Payroll Team achieved 99.74% accuracy and ICT achieved 100% performance on their new Service Level Agreements that are currently operational (others are still being baselined);

-     e-invoicing was live on 14^th November, 2006 with one of the Council’s largest suppliers;

-     the new suite of Service Level Agreements has been successfully implemented;

-     an employee of Registrars won the Heart Employee of the Month for December;

-     an employee of ICT completed a Computer Studies degree at Sheffield Hallam University and had also been awarded a University Prize for his final year dissertation about the impact of Internet web technologies in Local Government on social inclusion;

-     negotiations were taking place with Children and Young People’s Services for the renewal of the Schools Connect contract with effect from 1^st April, 2007;

-     Revenues and Benefits successfully completed a significant fraud investigation.

The report included the Service overview for:-

§                     Customer Services/Public Access

§                     HR and Payroll

§                     ICT

§                     Procurement

§                     Revenues and Benefits

§                     Progress against Corporate Initiatives

§                     Equalities

§                     Investors in People

§                     Consultation/Complaints

Reference was made to the action be taken to address current under-performance in respect of Service Level Indicators RB02/BV09 (Percentage of Council Tax collected for the year) and RB08/BV78(b) (Time taken to process changes in circumstances).

It was also noted that there had been a severe impact upon telephone calls received by the Contact Centre after the Council’s delivery of a leaflet to residents about refuse collection arrangements for Christmas and the New Year.

Resolved:- (1) That the contents of the report be noted.

(2) That the issues of short notice and lack of change request made to Rotherham Connect, in respect of the refuse collection arrangements for Christmas and the New Year and the consequent impact on the answering of telephone calls, be referred to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.

(3) That a further report be submitted to a future meeting in respect of the potential for the wider use of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system across other services in the Contact Centre.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Procurement Panel held on 11th December, 2006

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Procurement Panel, held on 11^th December, 2006.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes be noted.

To consider any questions received from Elected Members

A Member of Council had raised an issue concerning the proposed revisions to the text of the Council Tax reminder letters, although this has not yet filtered through to the Service. The RBT Service Leader – Revenues and Benefits would respond to this issue when it is received.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to financial affairs)

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended (information relating to financial affairs).

To consider the attached joint report of the Revenues and Benefits Client Officer and Service Leader

Further to Minute No. 53 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Customer Services and Innovation, held on 11^th December, 2006, consideration was given to a joint report of the Revenues and Benefits Client Officer and the RBT Service Leader – Revenues and Benefits containing a proposed action plan to improve the level of Council Tax collection during the remainder of the 2006/07 financial year and thereafter.

It was agreed that the report be considered by a wider group of Elected Members.