1.0 DELEGATIONS TO THE HEAD OF RESOURCES

1.1 The following postholders are authorised to represent the Council at the Magistrates' Court and County Court:-

The Head of Resources

The Chief Revenues Officer

The Senior Revenues Officer (Recovery)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Sundry Income)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Council Tax Billing)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Business Rates)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Scanning and Indexing)

1.2 The following postholders are authorised to prove debts on behalf of the Council in bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings:-

Post Ref.

The Head of Resources

The Chief Revenues Officer

The Senior Revenues Officer (Recovery)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Sundry Income)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Council Tax Billing)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Business Rates)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Scanning and Indexing)

The Revenues Assistant (Post CR0029)

1.3 The following postholders are authorised to represent the Council in the Valuation Tribunal:-

Post Ref.

The Head of Resources

The Chief Revenues Officer

The Senior Revenues Officer (Recovery)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Sundry Income)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Council Tax Billing)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Business Rates)

The Senior Revenues Officer (Scanning and Indexing)

 

1.4 To grant Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions in respect of disabilities.

1.5 To impose/quash penalties for breaches of statutory duties including the provision of Schedule 3 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 covering the supply of information regarding liable persons, exempt dwellings, joint and several liability and discounts and providing for a penalty of £50 on the first failure and £200 for a second failure or knowingly providing false information.

1.6 To vary the date of payment of the Council's instalment schemes applicable to the payment of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate, where necessary.

1.7 To vary the number of payment dates per month, dependent upon the method of payment used.

1.8 To administer Mandatory Charitable Relief applications in respect of National Non-Domestic Rate.

1.9 To sanction apportionment in respect of National Non-Domestic Rate - partly Occupied Property.

1.10 To assess applications made in respect of Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, in accordance with the criteria, identifying those applications which qualify for consideration by the Cabinet and refusing those which do not.

1.11 To institute proceedings for recovery of unpaid Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate.

1.12 To deal with other recovery/enforcement matters for Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate, i.e.:-

(i) Exercise distraint;

(ii) Administer the Attachment of Earnings/Deduction from Income Support provisions;

(iii) Initiate proceedings for commitment to prison;

(iv) Issue winding up/bankruptcy petitions/proceedings; and

(v) Make Charging Orders.

1.13 To reduce those debts in cases of liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy and deceased persons where the Estate has not been finalised, to a nominal sum to be reinstated accordingly when any payment is received.

1.14 To write-off debts in accordance with the Financial framework.

1.15 To select and appoint outside Bailiffs for recovery of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate.

1.16 Subject to proper checks, to engage private companies to complement the in-house recovery service for collection of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rate.

1.17 To administer and grant Housing and Council Tax Benefit in accordance with Government legislation.

1.18 To review leased cars insurance charge annually and revise where necessary.

1.19 To agree all insurance premiums and renewals which accord with the approved insurance specifications.

1.20 To administer and approve claims on the Insurance Fund.

1.21 To appoint a Mandated Lease Broker to facilitate the Council's annual leasing requirements.

1.22 To delegate to the appropriate Officer at any level, the power conferred upon the Head of Resources as set out in the Council's Constitution.

1.23 To establish the rate of interest charged to employees for car loans from 1st May each year, such rate to be set at the official, average rate of interest published by the Inland Revenue for the preceding Financial Year plus 2% rounded up to the nearest 0.1% in line with previous national practice.

1.24 To review employees’ subsistence and expense rates at 1st April each year, and to increase them in line with the rates payable to Members as decreed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

1.25 Authority for the provision, management and revision of appropriate internal systems and procedures associated with the Treasury Management function, such authority to be implemented at all times in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Framework.

1.26 The following post holder is authorised to represent the Council in connection with legal proceedings at the County Court:-

Post Ref: Senior Revenue Officer CR0027

 

1.27 The following postholders are delegated the necessary powers to operate the Discretionary Housing Payments Scheme:-

CRO119 - Principal Benefits Officer

CRO121 - Senior Benefits Officer

CRO122 - Senior Benefits Officer

CRO124 - Assessment Team Supervisor

CRO125 - Assessment Team Supervisor

CRO126 - Assessment Team Supervisor

CRO127 - Assessment Team Supervisor

CRO130 - Assessment Team Supervisor

1.28 The following postholders are delegated to act on behalf of the Council at Appeals Service tribunals:-

CRO083 - Assistant Benefits Manager

CRO085 - Senior Benefits Officer

CRO087 - Supervisor

CRO119 - Assistant Benefits Manager

CRO121 - Senior Benefits Officer

CRO122 - Senior Benefits Officer

CRO124 - Supervisor

CRO125 - Supervisor

CRO126 - Supervisor

CRO127 - Supervisor

CRO130 - Supervisor

 

1.29 The following Officers be given delegated authority to:-

1. authorise the Head of Law and Corporate Governance to take legal proceedings for offences under the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 and other related legislation subject to satisfactory evidence;
2. Offer an administrative penalty as an alternative to prosecution or a formal or informal caution in accordance with the Council’s Prosecution Policy as approved by the Policy and Resources (Finance) Sub-Committee on 19^{th July 2001.}

Head of Resources

CR0084 Senior Investigating Officer

2.0 WITHDRAWAL OF AUTHORITY

2.1 The authority to exercise any of the above delegations may be withdrawn at any time by the Head of Business Unit.