Individuals Stakeholder Group
Notes of meeting 15 January 2009 Churchill Room 100 Parliament Street London
Attendees
Wei Yeung - CEMVO
Nick Jones - Action for Blind People
Roger Pugh - DWP
Jane Hurn - Northern Network of Gypsies and Travellers
Severine Bert - Northern Network of Gypsies and Travellers
Robin Williamson - LITRG
Jacqui Tribe - Money Advice Liaison Group
David Malcolm - National Union of Students
Nigel Purkis - One Parent Families
Ben Forsyth - Scottish Accessible Information Forum
Rosina Pullman - TaxAid
Apologies
Richard Jenner - Advice Services Alliance
Sally West - Age Concern
Paula Higgleton - Deloitte/Big Four
Kate Green - Child Poverty Action Group
Elizabeth Ladimeji - Citizens Advice Bureau
William Hayden - Community Legal Advice
Pauline Leyshon - Connexions
Ron Alexander - DIAL Southend
Vanessa Stanislas - Disability Alliance
Christina Barnes - Equal Opportunities Commission
Mervyn Kohler - Help the Aged
Paula O'Dumody - LB Barnet
Ed Mayo - Customer Focus
Tracy Sisley - Office of the Third Sector
Pippa Goldie - Royal London Society for the Blind
Sharon Palmer - RNIB
Keith Spencer - RNID
Derek Munn - Stonewall
Theme: 'Being clear about responsibilities for us and for customers'
Item 1 - Welcome
Dan Pickles welcomed everyone to the sixth Individuals Stakeholder Forum (ISF) and advised the group that there had already been some changes to the style of the Forum based on conversations had with some of the attendees. There's a new style agenda, fewer workshops and the room was set the room up differently. Let us know what you think.
Dan then gave a couple of examples of where feedback from the Third Sector organisations has had an impact in HMRC:
- Tribunals Reform Project - the project team will be making clear and accessible guidance available from the SA Orderline for non web enabled customers as well as on demand at Enquiry Centres.
- National Minimum Wage (NMW) - the numerous suggestions received covering publicity and reaching vulnerable workers through various outlets have been shared/passed on to our BERR colleagues. We also passed on your feedback about the internet being the most used vehicle for finding out information about NMW.
Dan then drew attention to Surjit Singh's 'Tax on Interest campaign' questionnaire in the delegate pack and asked that attendees take the time to complete the questionnaire as Surjit is really keen to have feedback on the campaign. A copy of the questionnaire will be issued with the minutes so that people who couldn't attend the meeting can contribute.
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and there were no outstanding action points.
Item 2 - HMRC Customer Charter
Fiona Nellthorp took the group through a presentation on HMRC's Customer Charter, thanking the group for their help in the first stage of consultation and letting them know that the second stage was now beginning. This presentation and resulting feedback will be issued with the minutes.
Item 3 - Key Strategic workshops
The group then split into two breakout workshops, 'Error and Mistake relief' and 'Filing returns and paying tax on time'. The briefing and outputs from these sessions will be issued with the minutes.
Item 4 - Improving the impact of the ISF – tell us what you think
Denise Secretan then hosted a session asking for feedback on the ISF. Her two main questions were:
- What do you like about the Forum?
- How can we make the Forum even better?
Denise thanked the group for their comments and reiterated that items for the agenda of the meeting are always welcomed.
Feedback on these sessions will be issued with the minutes.
AP - Denise will be taking forward the suggestions made by
the attendees and will briefly outline the changes at the next meeting.
Item 5 - Summary and close
Dan thanked everyone for coming and then gave the date of the next meeting as 14 May 2009. Once again it was emphasised that agenda topics would be welcomed for the May agenda.
