AQW 3031/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Finance
To ask the Minister of Finance what contingency plans are in place if rates bills cannot be issued for collection in April 2020.
Asked by Andrew Muir MLA on 2 March 2020
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 2 March 2020
- Answer due by
- 18 March 2020
- Answered
- 11 March 20209 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Finance
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Preparations for the issue of the 2020/21 rate bills are well advanced and on schedule.
A key component of the billing process is the availability of a Regional Rate to allow rate bills to be calculated. LPS has administered the delivery of rate bills in each of the last three years with a degree of uncertainty over when a Regional Rate would be struck and made available. As a consequence, LPS has well developed contingency plans in place to accommodate any potential delays. These include:
billing delivery plans for a range of dates when a Regional Rate might be available;
liaison with suppliers for a series of bill generation, printing and post delivery slots; and
communication plans to keep ratepayers informed if delays are expected to be significant.