Unacceptable fiasco...

At the Council Meeting on 24 September 2012, I asked the Leader of the Council, Cllr Grosvenor, a question regarding problems with benefit overpayment.
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Leader-quizzed-on-725000-in-overpaid-benefits-27092012.htm

But the Leader was unable to give a satisfactory response.

The issue is that at 31 March 2012 i.e. 6 months ago the Council had overpayed benefits to the tune of massive £725,000.  Since then it has been trying to recover overpayments.  OK makes sense but this is where the problem starts!

The Council apparently uses 'Northgate System' for tracking overpayments.  But for the last 6 months there is a problem with the system and no one knows what the current overpayment figure is.

For people who are receiving benefits don't know if the right amount is deducted from their benefits.  So people could be overpaying or under paying.

Here is summary of the problem...

The Council has overpaid £0.75M (public money) in benefits.  They have been charging people, who are on benefits already and with not a lot of cash, to recover the overpayments.  But after 6 months they don't know if the problem is getting better or worse.  Also people on benefits don't know if the correct amount is deducted from their benefit and may be facing extra hardship.

Does it really take 6 months to fix a software problem?  What is the cost of the system which does not work?  How & why did Council purchase this system?  Why is the system not changed?

The Tories boast about efficiency savings and take great deal of pleasure in cutting jobs in the name of efficiencies. 
Is this what they mean by efficiencies? Utter fiasco and more misery for the most vulnerable.

Is this satisfactory level of service from the Tory controlled Council to its taxpayers?

Meeting

Had a meeting this morning with Jon Wheale (new PPC) and Labour Party Colleagues to discuss campaining for next elections leading to General election in 2015 to win back Burton seat from the Tories.
It was a great opportunity to meet Jon Wheale and discuss strategy for next few years.