HARD UP local residents will have to wait until the next century before the council gets round to looking at their benefit claims.

The current backlog of benefit enquiries stands at 9,997 and it is not expected to level out until March 2000.

Town hall staff are working flat out to deal with the backlog which was caused by an upgrade to their benefits computer system, which took much longer than expected.

It is thought that the delays will adversely affect some of the district's most disadvantaged residents.

An action plan was put in place by the council on Tuesday and revenue committee chairman, Cllr Carol Broad, said: "We really appreciate the effort staff are making to deal with the backlog and we just hope there isn't a flu outbreak or something. We were shut down for four and a half weeks which meant that we couldn't process any claims.

"The backlog is obviously unacceptable. We pre-warned claimants and landlords so they knew that there are delays but if there is anyone experiencing real difficulties they should get in touch."

The new computer system has had a number of teething problems and, as a result of the backlog, staff have had to deal with an increase in telephone inquiries. The action plan includes appointing four new staff, more staff over time, job share and limiting public telephone inquiries to between the hours of 10am and 3pm.

Cllr Broad added: "It's a difficult situation we're trying to deal with as fast as possible.

"It would be helpful if members of the public kept their calls to the benefits section to a minimum so staff can get on with processing claims. We hope to have it back to normal by March 31 next year."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.