Archived press release

Date Published: 29/06/06

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s housing and council tax benefit service is amongst the very best in the country, according to government figures. The Department for Work and Pensions recently published details of the administration of hou...

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s housing and council tax benefit service is amongst the very best in the country, according to government figures.

The Department for Work and Pensions recently published details of the administration of housing and council tax benefit by 408 local authorities in the financial year 2005/6.

The figures place AVDC well within the top quarter of performance nationally, which is excellent news for the council’s benefits customers.

The government measures the performance of local authorities on a series of targets, such as the average time for processing new claims and the percentage of cases calculated correctly.

Statistics reveal that AVDC takes an average of 20 days to process new benefits claims, beating the national “performance standard” of 36 days by 16 days.

“Changes in circumstances” are processed within seven days, two days less than the national standard, and the council’s accuracy rate in the processing of claims is the best in the country.

AVDC also completes 99 per cent of new claims within 14 days, as opposed to the national standard of 92 per cent.

In 2005/6, AVDC administered approximately £26 million in housing and council tax benefits, which is directly funded by a grant from the government.

Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Margaret Morgan-Owen, welcomed the release of these highly satisfactory performance statistics and praised benefits staff for their efforts over the pastyear. She said: “I am delighted to see the council’s continued improvement in the way it processes housing and council tax benefit claims. The latest figures show AVDC’s performance to be amongst the very best in the country. In fact, when it comes to accuracy, we are best.

“Our benefits team are to be congratulated on their exceptional work. Their commitment to achieving high targets has made these results possible.”

The Department for Work and Pensions monitors local authority administration of housing and council tax benefit to improve openness and accountability. It believes good housing benefit performance can have a significant impact in tackling poverty and providing opportunity.

Aylesbury Vale residents needing advice on housing or council tax benefit are asked to contact the council’s benefits team on 01296 585618 or email benefits@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk