The Leicestershire Partnership Revenues & Benefits Joint Committee met on Thursday 24 September 2026 to review the partnership's financial performance and operational effectiveness. The committee noted an underspend of £93,942 as of July 2026, primarily due to vacant posts, and reviewed performance indicators for benefits and council tax collection.

Financial Performance

The committee was informed of an underspend of £93,942 as of July 2026, largely attributed to vacant posts. While the pay award had not yet been fully processed, it was anticipated to reduce this underspend. Total reserves held as of 31 March 2026 stood at £765,748. Discussions also touched upon the potential impact of the delayed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on decisions regarding the use of these reserves, particularly concerning IT investments. Ashley Wilson, Section 151 Officer, noted that while the service would continue regardless of LGR, the delay meant a reassessment of investment plans was necessary. Sally O'Hanlon, Head of Partnership, added that innovation work, including systems improvements and capacity planning, was ongoing and linked to a review by East Midlands Councils. Concerns were raised about a potential overspend on postage, which it was hoped would be mitigated by future innovation.

Performance Report

The performance report for July 2026 indicated that benefits processing was generally on track, with a slight adjustment to the agreed processing time for new claims to 16 days. The migration of working-age claimants to Universal Credit was noted, leading to real-time changes that would be further automated with a system upgrade. A routine Pension Credit review by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was also mentioned.

In council tax collection, performance was tracking well, with Harborough District Council being the only authority slightly behind target, attributed to a challenging target set for that area. Significant growth in the council tax base was observed across all three authorities, with efforts focused on issuing completion notices to ensure readiness for council tax setting and Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) forecasts. The report highlighted an increase in council tax base and ongoing work around enforcement, with principles being developed for more proactive action on arrears, including potential charging orders and bankruptcy, though all due diligence would be undertaken and the committee would be informed before such measures were pursued.

Business rates performance varied across the three authorities. A significant matter outstanding at Northwest Leicestershire District Council involving multiple millions remained unresolved. Similarly, a change to a large assessment at Hinkley Point C was still pending. Appeals were being received, including complex assessments, with risks primarily associated with Northwest Leicestershire.

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Chair, noted that the next meeting would be held on 26 November in Coalville.