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Rates error may cost council jobs Rates error may cost council jobs
(about 2 hours later)
Services have been cut and workers may have to be laid off because of a blunder by the body responsible for rates gathering, a council has claimed.Services have been cut and workers may have to be laid off because of a blunder by the body responsible for rates gathering, a council has claimed.
Antrim Borough Council said there were serious questions over the performance of Land and Property Services (LPS).Antrim Borough Council said there were serious questions over the performance of Land and Property Services (LPS).
The council said it was told that as a result of an agency error over budgets, it would have to repay £600,000.The council said it was told that as a result of an agency error over budgets, it would have to repay £600,000.
Now the LPS has told the council that the original figure was wrong and it owes not £600,000, but £1.23m.Now the LPS has told the council that the original figure was wrong and it owes not £600,000, but £1.23m.
The council, however, has already set its spending plans for this year in place.The council, however, has already set its spending plans for this year in place.
As part of a nationwide exercise, the Ministry of Defence successfully appealed rates paid on its properties including RAF Aldergrove and Massereene army base in the Antrim council area.
It said the mistake will lead to reduced services to the community and could mean job losses among its 300 staff.It said the mistake will lead to reduced services to the community and could mean job losses among its 300 staff.
Councillor Adrian Watson said the error could affect staffing levels
Ulster Unionist Councillor Adrian Watson said the mistake had an immediate impact on staffing and services delivered to the people of Antrim.
"We may have to put a freeze on all staff recruitment," he said.
"It could mean job losses, we are not actively recruiting into this council. If people are retiring from the council and moving on, we are not filling those positions.
"The effect of this is very much at the door of the LPS."
In a strongly-worded letter of complaint to the Stormont Executive, the council said it had serious concerns about what it described as the shortcomings in the performance of the LPS, adding that "it suffered from poor accountability".In a strongly-worded letter of complaint to the Stormont Executive, the council said it had serious concerns about what it described as the shortcomings in the performance of the LPS, adding that "it suffered from poor accountability".
The LPS said it did not accept this. The Land and Property Service said it did not accept this and issued a statement rejecting accusations of shortcomings in its performance and poor accountability.
The LPS was set up two years ago and is responsible for valuations, issuing bills and collecting rates.
It is currently the subject of an internal departmental review set up earlier this year amid concerns over its performance.
Antrim Council will be meeting the finance minister after he returns from holiday in attempt to find a way that will minimise the impact on the error on its staffing levels.