The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) setting out the corporate debt management position to 31 March 2023.

Resolved:

1. That the finalised outstanding debt position as at 31 March 2023 and the position of debts written off to 31 March 2023, as set out in Appendices A and B to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the six write-offs for debts that exceed £25,000, as set out in Appendix B, be approved.

3. That the existing Debt Collection and Recovery Policy approved in November 2017, as set out at Appendix C, be noted and that a refresh of the policy be undertaken, and any proposed changes be brought back to Cabinet on 18 September 2023 for approval.

Reasons for decision:

1. Debt collection is conducted independently by each department in accordance with the Council’s Debt Collection and Recovery Policy to ensure a fair and consistent approach is applied to each case, and to maximise collection for the Council.

2. Each write-off is considered on an individual basis to assess the viability of collection and via the Council’s Debt Collection and Recovery Policy to ensure a standard consistent approach.

Other options:

None.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Not eligible for call-in as the matter has been the subject of pre-Cabinet scrutiny by the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet Member: Cllr Cox