Business Rate Service Plan
The business rates service
Wealden District
Council is a designated billing authority. We carry out administration
and collection of Business Rates in accordance with statute law,
regulations and case law, to achieve the collection targets.
The service has strong links to all functions, as failure to generate
income, would have serious implications for Council services.
The plan links into the prosperity theme of the Community
Strategy.
Key Actions
- To identify liabilities for business rates
- To undertake billing and collection and make reductions in accordance with legislation and Council policy
- To permit payments by instalments in line with statutory rules
- To effect enforcement activity for cases in arrears in accordance with legislation and Council policy
- To meet target collection rates as set annually and to monitor performance with other billing authorities
Programme for 2006/07
- To ensure effective service delivery across all areas of policy
- Increase collection rates to at least agreed targets
- Reduce average time to answer correspondence
- Implement new facility for customers to view on-line business rate balances
- Increase the number of direct debit payers across the district
Performance Targets for 2006/07
Our Performance in 2005/06 |
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To collect 98.5% of 2005/06 business rates within the year |
Achieved - 98.6% collected |
To collect 98.5% of 2006/07 business rates. |
To collect 99.3% of 2004/05 business rates by 31 March 2006 |
99.2% collected |
To collect 99.3% of 2005/06 business rates by 31 March 2007 |
To answer 90% correspondence within 5 working days of their receipt. |
89% answered |
To answer 90% correspondence within 5 working days of their receipt. |
Reduce the overall level of arrears as at 31 March 2005 for council tax and national non-domestic rates by 60% of the total by 31 March 2006. |
57% |
Reduce the overall level of arrears as at 31 March 2006 for council tax and national non-domestic rates by 60% of the total by 31 March 2007. |
