Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Operations.

The Cabinet Member with the Resources Portfolio introduced the report of the Group Director of Operations (previously circulated) providing Members with an update on the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Council rents during 2021/22 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 2021/22 had continued to be a significant challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic; normal recovery and enforcement activities had been restricted with Courts only taking on a limited numbers of cases and the recovery of some debts delayed; despite the challenges, a total of £118.4M had been collected in 2021/22; and that approval was being sought to write-off a total of £859,531 of debts in respect of individual cases exceeding £500 for the financial year 2021/22, 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 £859,531 for debts over £500, 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.?????