Agenda item

Question 1 Scrutiny Work Programme  

As Chairman of the Shadow Authority, I had intended to ask a question about the proposed Work Programme of the Scrutiny Committee, but I note that agenda item 6 has now been withdrawn.

Turning instead to agenda item 10, Programme Update, I note the volume of work that has been undertaken by the Executive to date and the work that is scheduled for the next five months until vesting date.  In particular, para 3.11 refers to 128 critical ‘must haves’, which need to be implemented by 1 April 2020.

Given that our staff are trying to maintain all existing services in the current District and County Councils and deliver on the implementation programme, do you believe that you have sufficient resources to deliver on this timetable, incorporating what appears to be an extended Scrutiny function?

Response – The transition to the formation of the Buckinghamshire Council on 1 April 2020 is utilising existing resources from across all five existing councils in order to run the Programme Management Office (PMO).  Admiration and gratitude is given to all staff working long hours.  Progress is discussed on a regular basis with the Chief Executive of the new council and there is confidence that there are the right skills and knowledge in the PMO.  There are regular monitoring updates to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the use of internal audit to review the work being done and external resources are being used as critical friends.  This is a challenging time for staff as they take on additional work alongside business as usual.  The Shadow Executive would like to discuss the scrutiny workload with the Shadow Scrutiny Committee in order to ensure there is the right balance between a focus on delivering the new council and at the same time ensuring legitimate scrutiny takes place.

Question 2 Managing the Council Tax

I would like to ask what plans the Shadow Executive is putting in place to manage the collection of council tax within the new Buckinghamshire Council. Presently, all the council tax is being collected by the four district councils, and is adequately managed in those areas. What work is being undertaken to prepare for the oversight and management of council tax collection within the Buckinghamshire Council, and what preparation is being put in place to ensure that parish and town councils’ council tax will be distributed back to those parishes both efficiently and in accordance with best practice? Meanwhile ensuring that there is no delay in parish and town councils receiving their precept in a timely and efficient manner within the new local authority, and enabling them to pay their staff and cover their expenses which they had budgeted for within their precepts.

Response - The process for collecting Council Tax will not change on the 1st of April 2020. The Unitary Authority will continue to use their existing software for the production of bills, receipting income, account reconciliations, and production of management reports. All Councils have discussed the change of legal structure with their current banking providers and no new risks are created by the structural change; a change of name on existing bank accounts can be achieved. A working group is exploring the harmonisation of the cash receipting system (e.g. processes to receive payments); this should not create any additional risks than current arrangements. Parish Council precepts will not be affected by the move to a Unitary. The Parishes will receive their precepts in instalments as per the arrangement agreed between the former District Councils and the Parishes / Towns. Typically, the precept is split into two advance payments, i.e. April and September.

Question 3 Paying Council Tax by Direct Debit

Many Buckinghamshire residents pay their Council Taxes by direct debit. These taxes are currently paid directly to District Councils and the Direct Debit Guarantee requires that changes in the amount, date or frequency of payments be notified to payers with at least 10 days of notice. If it will be the new Buckinghamshire Council that levies the Council Tax on our county for 2020/21, what plans have been made to ensure that adequate notice is given to residents of the changes in their direct debits or that new Direct Debit agreements are signed? 

Response - There are no planned changes to Council Tax Direct Debit payment dates.  The Banks have confirmed that existing Direct Debit Mandates will remain in place and there is no need to ask residents to sign a new agreement. Residents will be notified of the new instalment amounts in their Council Tax Bills that will be issued in March in the usual way.