Purpose

This report
seeks approval to undertake
procurement for professional services to analyse the rating list,
identify missing Rateable Value that could increase Council
Business Rates income, identify potential Small Business Rate
Relief fraud, provide a risk assessment of potential losses
resulting from appeals against the Rateable Value to the Valuation
Office Agency and increase Council Tax revenue by identifying
properties that are not in the banding list. Additional services to
be included will assist the Business Rates Team with the monitoring
and identification of business properties and provide a detailed
knowledge base to keep abreast of continually evolving
legislation.
 

Decision

Decision(s):
 

The award of a call off contract under the Crown Commercial
Services (CCS) framework for two years plus two optional
twelve-month extensions be approved.

That the contract starts no later than 1st September
2024 be approved.
That authority be delegated to the Revenues
and Operations Support Manager, with support from the Chief Legal
and Democratic Officer and the Procurement Team, to procure and award the contract under the above
framework to Inform CPI.
 
Reasons for the Decision(s):
 

The current contract with Inform CPI and was awarded through Bloom
Procurement Services (NEPO) framework on 1st March 2021;
the contract was in place for 3 years and a further 6-month
extension was approved by waiver in December 2023 which extended
the contract to 31st August 2024.

In 2023/24, for the Rateable Value finder and Council Tax finder
elements of the service, a total additional Rateable Value of
£295,675 was identified increasing income from business rates
by approximately £170,000 per annum.

The risk to the Council of entering a new contract is low. Payment
is only made on a commission basis for the increased Rateable
Value. If no additional Rateable Value is found, then there is no
cost.
 
Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected: (including any Risk Implications)
 

A.   
Undertake a full OJEU compliant
procurement exercise opening to all potential bidders. This option
has been rejected as there is only a single identified supplier
that can meet all the Council’s requirements. A full
procurement exercise would therefore prove costly without any
additional benefits.
 

B.   
Not enter into a new contract for the
required Rateable List Analysis and Audit services However, this
option has been rejected as the Council could potentially miss out
on vital additional business rates income.