Reduce Downtime with Status Monitor

System downtime can be expensive and inexcusable - but with Status Monitor it can be predicted and prevented. One of the key problems for our customers is a lack of knowledge about the Progress database.

If a problem occurs, one of our experienced members of staff will carry out a number of tests to determine the cause. Status Monitor replaces these tests with a proactive monitoring system. It constantly checks the important aspects of the IBS application and generates an alert when something occurs which is likely to cause a problem. As a result, predictable errors can be avoided and action taken to minimise the problem, risk to your business and associated costs.

More detailed information is available by emailing a request here alternatively you can contact your Civica OPENRevenues Account Manager on 01635 550088.

New Consumer White Paper: Council Tax Implications

The new Government White Paper "Better Deal for Consumers" released on Thursday, and aimed at helping those in financial difficulty, has implications for Council Tax Collection:

"The Government wants to ensure that consumers in financial difficulty are treated with consideration by all their creditors. Council tax is rightly considered a priority debt and given precedence over other debts by people unable to pay all their debts when drawing up a repayment schedule. But local authorities recognise that some people will face real difficulties in meeting their obligations during the downturn. Council tax benefit is available for those on low incomes and we are keen that everyone entitled should claim it. Councils have discretion to agree a payment arrangement with any taxpayer to enable them to clear arrears. They can also, and frequently do, make such arrangements instead of pursuing formal enforcement measures."

There are also two further initiatives announced: "Council tax collection protocol" and a "Statement of good collection practice"

Full text of the white paper can be reached via a link on our Discussion Board or by clicking here. The relevant pages are 20-22.

Temporary Accommodation Subsidy Proposals for April 2010

The DWP have circulated an advance copy of proposals to change the way subsidy is calculated for temporary accommodation cases i.e. non HRA rent rebate claims. From 1st April 2010 they wish to remove the two different rates of excess benefit that qualify for lower rates of subsidy and calculate the subsidy threshold based on a level linked to the LHA rate. The formal consultation process is due to start about now.

The initial response from OPENRevenues is now available to members of our Discussion Group and will be posted in edited form on this blogsite shortly.

NEW! OPENRevenues Discussion Board Launching Soon!

In response to requests from recent User Groups we will shortly be launching the new OPENRevenues Discussion Board. This new facility is designed to allow system users across all our customer sites and our product team to communicate with each other in real-time.

All system users will shortly receive an invitation email linking them to the site and instructions on how to activate their membership.

We hope this channel will add another way in which the OPENRevenues Community can interact with each other, and gives everyone direct access to our product team. If you use our OPENRevenues product look out for your invitation email and we look forward to reading your posts soon!

Real-time reporting of the DWP HoBoD performance statistics

In response to the need for monitoring the DWP derivation rules for the SHBE extract, and financial information on payments and overpayments. We have introdued two new modules to their product suite.

The HBoD module enables users to view performance for the current month prior to submission plus the two previous months and matches how DWP apply their derivation rules to determine your performance. This facilitates daily monitoring of benefit performance together with a full analysis before the data issubmitted on the SHBE extract.

The HB Finance module provides detailed information on both payments and overpayments. Allowing monitoring on paid on time from both date determined and date all information received together with outstanding, new, recovered and written off overpayments. In addition within the overpayments area you can now also see details of transactions that affect the outstanding debt such as returned cheques, offsets etc. There is also a drill down on subsidy data and a year on year aged debt analysis.

This software is just part of a suite of products that will help improve efficiency and drive cost savings for LA work processes for further details or to request additional information please ask your Account Manager for details via 01635 550088 or email openrevenues@civica.co.uk

John Denham moved to Cummunities Secretary

John Denham has been appointed communities and local government secretary in Gordon Brown’s reshuffle

Mr Denham previously Innovation, Universities and Skills secretary, described himself as honoured to move to the role.

“Having started out as a local councillor, I know how important it is to have strong local government running outstanding public services. Families and businesses which are struggling in these difficult times are looking to this department for practical help, and I am determined to deliver what they need."

Yvette Cooper Replaces James Purnell

Yvette Cooper has moved from her role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury to head up the DWP position vacated by James Purnell last night.

Ms Cooper previously held the job of Minister of State for Housing and Planning until January 2008. She is MP for Pontefract and Castleford.