A NEW computer service is being installed to take the council's Revenue Services into the Millennium - but council tax payers and housing benefits customers could see delays.

The new software is being introduced to cope with the collection of over £30m in council tax from 56500 dwellings and the payment of £22.3m in housing benefit and council tax benefit. Work on converting the systems started this week and the new system is expected to "go live" on 11th October. During the next two weeks no work on incoming correspondence and claims will be possible and benefits customers will be notified of the delay in dealing with their correspondence.

Housing Benefit landlords have already been warned about delays. Councillor Carol Broad, Chairman of the Revenues and Benefits Sub Committee, said: "Every effort is being made to ensure these changes to the computer system are introduced efficiently and effectively and cause as little disruption to the level of service we provide as possible.

"However some delays are inevitable and the users of the Service are asked to bear with us during this time."

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