Decision details

The Joint Committee was informed that the Mayor of Newham was in the process of requesting to the London Boroughs of Havering and Bexley to transfer the Newham Council Tax and Benefits service from oneSource and into Newham Council’s responsibility.

It was explained that once the Mayor had formally made the decision to make the request, Havering and Bexley Councils would be asked to approve the transfer. There was no immediate cost of the proposal however it was explained that oneSource would potentially not be able to deliver the full savings that had been anticipated in the original oneSource business case in relation to the Council Tax and Benefits service in Havering.

It was noted that London Borough of Bexley had not previously assumed savings from joint working.

The Joint Committee

1.    noted the Mayor of Newham’s intention to request to Havering and Bexley Councils to remove Newham’s Council Tax and Benefits service from the Joint Committee and Delegation Agreement

2.    noted that the two councils would have 20 business days to respond to the request once it was received.

3.    noted that each Council would separately assess the financial impact of the decision from their individual perspectives, ie to request withdrawal (Newham) or to accept the proposal (Havering & Bexley).

4.    noted that oneSource needed to develop new savings plans for Havering to replace those not deliverable through a shared Council Tax and Benefit arrangement with Newham.