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LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE (LGFRC)

MINUTES OF ELEVENTH MEETING: 09 JUNE 2005, ST. ANDREWS HOUSE, EDINBURGH

Present:

Committee
Sir Peter Burt, Chairman
Professor John Baillie, Member
Peter Daniels OBE, Member
Janet Lowe CBE, Member

In Attendance:
Kenneth McKay CBE, Specialist Adviser to the Committee
David Milne, Secretary to the Committee
Stewart Barrie, Assistant Secretary to the Committee
Douglas Gillespie, Scottish Assessors Association*
Duncan Leslie, Scottish Assessors Association*
Michael Lithgow, Scottish Assessors Association*
Alexander McConochie, Scottish Assessors Association*
William Sommerville, Scottish Assessors Association*
David Barr, Department of Work and Pensions**
Jane Mapp, Department of Work and Pensions**

(* for Item 3)
(** for item 4)

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
1.1 The draft minutes of the meeting on 25 May were agreed, with minor modifications.

2. Matters Arising
2.1 The Committee discussed the question of the extent to which local authorities have discretion over the services they provide. They recognised the potential difficulty in obtaining robust answers to this question. However, the Secretariat was asked to pursue the issue further with a number of stakeholders identified by the Committee.

3. Discussions with Scottish Assessors Association
3.1 The Committee welcomed representatives of the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA). The discussion covered a range of issues, including the role of Assessors, the revaluation process, and options for revaluation and rebanding.

4. Discussion with Department of Work and Pensions
4.1 The Committee welcomed David Barr and Jane Mapp from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The ensuing discussion covered the operation of the Council Tax Benefit (CTB) system; take-up of CTB; and measures being taken by DWP to improve take-up.

5. Any Other Business
5.1 It was noted that some detailed arrangements relating to the oral evidence sessions needed to be settled. The Secretariat would produce a paper for the next meeting.
5.2 The Committee briefly discussed arrangements for its forthcoming meetings on 23 June and 7 July.


Summary of action points:

• Secretariat to pursue the question of the extent to which local authorities have discretion over the services they provide further with a number of stakeholders identified by the Committee
• Secretariat to produce a paper outlining practicalities of oral evidence sessions; and
• Committee to meet COSLA at its 23 June meeting, starting at 10:30AM.

Local Government Finance Review Committee
Secretariat
June 2005