Decision details

To purchase the Apply4online solution with Hive Reporting software for a twelve month trial period to assist the Business Rates team in the detection and prevention of inappropriate registrations and relief awards at first point of contact.

RESOLVED - That:To authorise the purchase of the Apply4online for twelve months at a cost of £9,996.00 inclusive of VAT.

Option 1 - Approve the purchase of the Apply4onine product for a twelve month period. This will assist the Business Rates team in identifying inappropriate relief claims or registrations at first point of contact, alongside a consistent approach in data gathering, thereby ensuring that rate mitigation schemes are correctly policed and provide assurance that the correct liable parties are billed for business rates. This will also ensure that if recovery action is taken due to non-payment, time and resources are not expended inappropriately and retrospective amendments required which jeopardise the efficient and effective collection of Business Rates due.
Option 2 - To develop internal solutions. This would need allocation of key personnel from Revenues 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 remainder of this financial year. By implementing this interactive form for a twelve month period, the Council will be able to address weaknesses in the short term and assess whether, in the longer term, internal solutions would be feasible.

Option 2

Consultation with Finance, Legal and Procurement Officers.