Agenda item

The Committee received the Thames Valley Transactional Services performance report for the period September 2014 to February 2015. Core activities undertaken by arvato during this reporting period included:

• arvato’s business continued to grow with the inclusion of the private business sector with over 400 staff employed on site. A commitment to supporting young people continued through offering apprenticeships  and training them to NVQ Level 2. Working with the community remained a priority, with Kevin Hales, arvato site director appointed onto the Slough Aspire Board and staff contributing to school careers events and running local children’s workshops. arvato were also sponsoring a category in the Slough Business Awards.
• Customer services had improved, with reduced waiting and call times for local residents.
• Strong Key Performance Indicators across all services ensuring the delivery of the contractual obligations. A Self Service system was being developed to allow residents to view their council tax accounts on line and remained on target for implementation from March 2015.
• The Council had commissioned arvato to carry out two additional projects – maximising business rates and reviewing Aged Debt. Both these projects were underway and would result in an increase in revenue for the Council. 

A Member commented on how the budget gap of £2.7 million for phase 1 transactional services would be addressed and was informed that this was met from one-off funding due to a Government grant above the anticipated level when the 2013/14 budget was set. For future years this funding gap would be addressed through a growth bid and reflected in the revenue and Medium Term Financial Strategies. 

During the ensuing discussion Members requested information relating to recovery of monies when a company entered administration and what support and advice was given to companies experiencing financial difficulties. Kevin Hales explained that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs had priority in terms of monies being recovered and would confirm where on the priority list Local Authorities were ranked. 

Responding to what impact, if any, the introduction of Neighbourhood Benefit and Money Advice Officers had had, Members were informed that Officers had been working in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods of Slough to generate additional income within the community and improve financial inclusion. Initial feedback had demonstrated that work carried out by the Officers had had a positive impact.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to reschedule future performance reports to allow full performance figures to be presented at the end of each contractual year. It was agreed that arvato would continue to report o the Committee at least twice in each municipal year.   

Resolved – That details of the performance report be noted and future reports be presented to the Committee in January and June of each year.