This report sets out the Council’s approach to collecting and recovering debt owed to the Council by businesses and residents.  The Corporate Debt Policy is attached to the report as Annex A.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Corporate Debt Policy attached at Annex A of the report be approved; the new recovery methods as detailed in paragraph 1.6 of the report be adopted and note that the Write Off Policy is delegated to the S151 Officer, the Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive as detailed in paragraph 1.13 of the report.

The subject of the decision:

This report set out the Council’s approach to collecting and recovering debt owed to the Council by businesses and residents.  A copy of the Corporate Debt Policy was attached as an annex to the report.  The Policy applied to Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates and Sundry Debts including Housing Benefit overpayments.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied that the Corporate Debt Policy was necessary to enable the Council to collect debts from both businesses and residents.  The money collected enabled the Council to provide public services and monies not collected meant fewer resources were available for services.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends that Council:-

(1)     approves the Corporate Debt Policy attached as Annex A to the report;

(2)     adopts the new recovery methods as detailed in paragraph 1.6 of the report; and

(3)     notes that the Write-Off Policy as detailed in paragraph 1.13 of the report is delegated to the S151 Officer, the Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive.