Decision details

To utilise part of the added value offering of £30,000 per contract year from Marston’s Holdings successful enforcement tender submission to purchase software to; improve management information and reporting in Revenues and Benefits; aid the identification of missing business and domestic properties and potential inappropriate small business rate relief awards.

RESOLVED - That: approval is given to the use of £16,000 of Marston’s premium added value allocation for the purchase and use of the Hub, Nexus and Vision software for the 2023/24 financial year.

Option 1 - To authorise the use of £16,000 of Marston’s premium added value allocation for the purchase and use of the Hub, Nexus and Vision software for the 2023/24 financial year.
Option 2 - To develop internal solutions. This would need allocation of key personnel from Revenues and Benefits to a specific project team, at a time when resources are already stretched, and other urgent projects have to be progressed and managed by those same personnel over the next financial year. By implementing these software solutions for a twelve month period, we are able to address weaknesses in the short term and assess whether, in the longer term, internal solutions would be necessary or preferable.
Option 3 - To utilise the allocated funding in other areas, but this will mean a continued lack of resilience and weakness in the areas highlighted in this report.

Options 2 and 3

Internal consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon, Finance and Legal Officers.