Friday, September 29, 2023
For immediate release
Council to bring revenues and benefits service in-house to make significant saving
Charnwood Borough Council has agreed to bring its revenues and benefits service back in-house to help save around £1.5 million.
The service has been delivered by an external provider for over 10 years, but the Council’s Cabinet has decided it should be run and managed by the Council directly.
It follows a procurement exercise which considered proposals by external organisations alongside an option for the Council to run the service. The exercise concluded that the Council could maintain service standards and make savings when compared to the proposals from external providers.
The revenues and benefits service deals with collection and billing for council tax and business rates, housing benefits claims and managing council tax support and discretionary housing and council tax payments.
Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We have worked well with our partner to deliver this service for many years, and I would like to thank them for everything they have done. However, the time has come to head in a different direction.
“Moving the service in-house will make a significant saving to ensure we can get the most out of every pound we spend.
“It is likely that Council services will continue to be delivered in different ways, either directly or by outsourcing. The important point is that we maintain excellent services for residents, and we achieve value for money.
“I am also pleased that as a new administration we are already delivering on our commitment to bring services in-house when it proves cost-effective to do so.”
Cllr Ian Ashcroft, Lead Member for Finance, Customer and Support Services, Revenues and Benefits, said: “The Council is facing significant financial challenges in the years ahead and it is more important than ever to achieve value for money.
“Bringing this service in-house will make a substantial saving over the next few years and that will help make our financial situation more stable and sustainable so we can continue to deliver important services for the residents of Charnwood.”
The revenues and benefits service will be brought back in-house towards the end of 2024. It is estimated the move will save the Council around £1.5 million over five years.
The decision was taken at Cabinet on September 14 as an exempt item due to its commercial sensitivity.
ENDS