Decision Maker: Assistant Director - Technology
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To direct award a contract to NEC Software
Solutions via CCS Framework RM6259, Vertical Application Solutions
for the consolidation of seven instances of the Revenues and
Benefits systems to one.
The Revenue and Benefits Service utilises one
of the key digital systems for any local authority for the
processing of payments to local businesses, council taxpayers and
hundreds of low-income households on a weekly basis. The system
maintains council tax and business rate accounts while applying any
discounts and reliefs, along with recovering any unpaid debts to
the Council.
Every council in the UK is required to process revenue and benefits
data as a statutory service. As a result of local government
reorganisation, the service is aiming to consolidate the seven
systems into one prior to running the Annual Billing process in the
2025/2026 financial year.
This is the enactment of a key decision made on 6/12/23.
It was an executive decision, it was a key decision (6/12/23), the
call-in period did apply (and has now elapsed), and it was not
subject to any exemptions.
Alternative options not considered due to
timescales required to consolidate to one system for Annual Billing
2025/2026.
Also factored in the cost of change, time and training required to
a new supplier made this unrealistic.
Publication date: 16/04/2024
Date of decision: 28/03/2024