AQW 3031/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 02/03/2020
Answered On Date: 11/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance what contingency plans are in place if rates bills cannot be issued for collection in April 2020.

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.