Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the Debt Recovery Policy as presented.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure the Council’s policies are comprehensive and consistent with current regulation and best practice.

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The Corporate Performance Panel had considered this Policy and supported the Cabinet Recommendations.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance reminded the Cabinet that this Policy was being introduced following internal audit recommendations.  He explained that published procedures would also sit alongside the Policy and asked the Deputy Monitoring Officer to circulate the associated procedures to Cabinet Members for information.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer explained that legislation set out the requirements of how certain payments were collected and this policy dealt with those not bound by legislation to ensure consistency.  He explained that cases would be considered dependant on individual circumstances and provisions made for those that were genuinely vulnerable.

Cabinet discussed debt levels and it was noted that the scale of debt being pursued was quite small.  The Chair, Councillor Ring explained that public money needed protecting therefore it was essential that the Council collected debt, and this Policy ensured that it was done in a correct way.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance commented that he had assurance from the debt recovery team that they did not stop pursuing debt at the end of year and made every effort to collect.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the Debt Recovery Policy as presented.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure the Council’s policies are comprehensive and consistent with current regulation and best practice.