Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Operations.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report (previously circulated) of the Group Director of Operations providing Members with an update on the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Council rents during 2023/24 and requesting that consideration be given to the writing-off of debts over £500 that are considered to be irrecoverable.

The submitted report stated that the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Council rents during 2023/24 had continued to be a significant challenge due to the current economic climate; despite the challenges, a total of £135.61M had been collected in 2023/24; and that approval was being sought to write-off a total of £1,538,782 of debts in respect of individual cases exceeding £500 for the financial year 2023/24, where it had become apparent that no further steps could be taken to recover the sums due.

RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report, be noted.

(b) That the write-off of £1,538,782 for debts over £500, as detailed in the submitted report, subject to further steps for recovery being taken, wherever possible, if and when contact with the debtor is made, be approved.

REASONS – (a) The collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Council rents underpins the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

(b) The write-off of irrecoverable debts enables the Council’s accounts to be maintained in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules.