Agenda and draft minutes

Leicestershire Partnership Revenues & Benefits Joint Committee - Thursday, 12 June 2025 3.30 pm

Venue: De Montfort Suite, Hinckley Hub. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Valentine-Wilkinson 

Note: See media to watch meeting via Youtube 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of chair

Minutes:

In the absence of the chair and vice-chair, it was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Beadle and

 

RESOLVED – Councillor Bools be appointed chair for the first part of the meeting only.

2.

Appointment of Chair for the 2025/26 year

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Bools and

 

RESOLVED – Councillor Beadle be appointed chair for the 2025/26 municipal year.

3.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Wyatt, seconded by Councillor Bools and

 

RESOLVED – Councillor Woodman be appointed vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year.

4.

Apologies for absence

To receive and note any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bray, Knowles and Lynch with the substitution of Councillor Bools for Councillor Lynch in accordance with paragraph 4.3 of the joint committee’s constitution.

5.

Declarations of interest

Under the code of conduct members are reminded that in declaring interests they should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is a disclosble pecuniary interest, registrable interest or other interest.

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

6.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

On the motion of Councillor Woodman, seconded by Councillor Bools, it was

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March were confirmed as a correct record.

7.

Performance Outturn March 2025 pdf icon PDF 762 KB

To inform members of the performance of the Partnership for the period April 2024 to March 2025

Minutes:

Members were updated on the performance of the partnership for 2024/25. Concern was expressed in relation to the low collection rates for benefit debt and it was noted that it was difficult to recover this debt due to the nature of it and the vulnerability of the debtors, but improvements had been implemented.

 

The report was noted.

8.

Financial Outturn April 2024 to March 2025 pdf icon PDF 286 KB

To inform members of the financial performance of the Partnership for the period April 2024 to March 2025

Minutes:

The draft financial outturn for 2024/25 was presented to the committee. A member queried the making of investments with local government reorganisation on the horizon. In response, it was explained that in authorities that had already been through reorganisation, functions had taken several years to harmonise so the value of the investments would be realised.

 

The report was noted.

 

9.

Internal Audit scope

Verbal update to be provided

Minutes:

It was proposed that the internal audit scope should focus on council tax support and business rates key controls. This was supported by members.

 

The report was noted.

10.

Business rates consultation

Verbal update to be provided

Minutes:

Members were updated on the awaited business rates reset which would allow the government to redistribute the income from business rates and would result in a reduction of business rates income for the authorities within the partnership who benefitted from a relatively high level of income.

11.

Schedule of future meetings pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To present the schedule of meetings for the forthcoming year.

 

 

Minutes:

The dates of future meetings were agreed as:

 

18 September 2025 at North West Leicestershire District Council

20 November 2025 at Harborough District Council

22 January 2026 at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

26 March 2026 at North West Leicestershire District Council

25 June 2026 at Harborough District Council (annual meeting 2026/27).

12.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To note the joint committee’s forward plan.

Minutes:

The forward plan was noted.