This document is also available in pdf format (112k)
1. EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT FUND
1.1 STAGE 1 APPLICATION - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
1.2 TAYSIDE & FIFE COUNCIL TAX COLLECTION PROJECT
Lead bidder | Angus Council
David Sawers
Director of Finance
01307 473402
sawersds@angus.gov.uk |
Brief description of the aims of the project | The project is to increase collection levels of Council Tax in respect of current year and previous years arrears. This would be achieved by carrying out special exercises in respect of:- - Promotion of payment by direct debit
- Tracking of "gone aways"
- Matching of non-payers with licensing applications. This would also assist with the collection of Non Domestic Rates
- Data matching of non-payers with other Councils employee records
- Door to door information gathering
- Tracing of taxpayers whose accounts for old addresses are in credit
|
Clear description of what the EGF money would be used to buy | - Project Management
- Establish a team of eight staff
- Training of staff
- Information Technology resource
- Accommodation costs including furniture and equipment
- Software costs
- Travel costs
- Direct Debit promotion costs
|
Partners to the project likely to commit resources | Angus Council Dundee Council Fife Council Perth & Kinross Council |
Name of other organisations with whom the project has been discussed | None |
Evidence that suggested approach has been deployed successfully elsewhere | The Revenues Managers of the four Councils have evaluated the results of initiatives undertaken in their individual Councils using currently available resources and projected the likely results of the proposed initiatives on the basis of a joined up approach and additional resources being made available. The outcomes in terms of amounts which would be collectable are best estimates. |
Are there any restrictions to potential for enlargement of the project (ie technology, number of partners etc) | The project could be expanded without undue difficulty subject to the additional partners being geographically adjacent to the current partners for initiatives such as door to door collecting and direct debit promotion. |
Benefits projected from the project | The estimated projected benefits are increased collections of Council Tax and Water Services charges (this is a consequence of joint billing and collection arrangements). The matching of non-payers with licensing applications will also have a knock-on effect on Non Domestic Rates collections in respect of liquor licences. The estimated benefits have been arrived at by taking cognisance of current initiative results. The annual increases in collections for the four partner organisations are detailed below and will be reviewed on an on-going basis. The project start date would be at some point during 2005/06 with the four year project finishing during 2009/10. |
Estimated financial projections | |
Overall project cost | The estimated costs are calculated based on full years. The project would start at some point during 2005/06 with the four year project finishing during 2009/10. |
| Total | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|
Project Management | | 35,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 |
|---|
Project Staff | | 155,000 | 155,000 | 155,000 | 155,000 |
|---|
Staff Training & Recruitment | | 6,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
|---|
IT Resource | | 30,000 | 15,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
|---|
Accommodation | | 10,500 | 10,500 | 10,500 | 10,500 |
|---|
Furniture & Equipment | | 13,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
Software | | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
|---|
Travel | | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
|---|
Direct Debit Promotion | | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
|---|
Inflation | | 0 | 7,000 | 14,000 | 21,000 |
|---|
| 1,041,000 | | | | |
|---|
Estimated projected benefits |
|---|
| Total | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|
Angus in-year Council Tax | | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
|---|
in-year Water | | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Council Tax | | 52,000 | 52,000 | 52,000 | 52,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Water | | 21,000 | 21,000 | 21,000 | 21,000 |
|---|
Dundee in-year Council Tax | | 21,300 | 21,300 | 21,300 | 21,300 |
|---|
in-year Water | | 8,700 | 8,700 | 8,700 | 8,700 |
|---|
Arrears of Council Tax | | 213,000 | 213,000 | 142,000 | 142,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Water | | 87,000 | 87,000 | 58,000 | 58,000 |
|---|
Fife in-year Council Tax | | 112,000 | 112,000 | 112,000 | 112,000 |
|---|
in-year Water | | 38,000 | 38,000 | 38,000 | 38,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Council Tax | | 375,000 | 375,000 | 375,000 | 375,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Water | | 125,000 | 125,000 | 125,000 | 125,000 |
|---|
P & K in-year Council Tax | | 34,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 |
|---|
in-year Water | | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
|---|
Arrears of Council Tax | | 72,500 | 72,500 | 72,500 | 72,500 |
|---|
Arrears of Water | | 29,500 | 29,500 | 29,500 | 29,500 |
|---|
| 4,772,000 | | | | |
|---|
Is a pilot required - see guidance notes | |
Additionally: why is EG funding required | Collecting unpaid local taxes is time consuming and resource critical. The four partner Councils have maximised their arrears collection efforts within available budgets but feel that the joined up approach will achieve benefits of scale. Subject to recruitment and training requirements and timescales additional staffing resources could quickly be utilised and accrue dividends in terms of additional collections. |
Does this project complementary in anyway to other EG work | No |
Is "stage 2 development funding" requested? | No |