Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He highlighted to Members that there were two Non Domestic Rate debts over £10,000 in respect of which approval to write-off was being sought. He assured Members that all the appropriate steps had been taken to try to recover the debts and that the Council would bear 40% of the cost which would have an impact on the collection rate for the year. He advised that he had requested work be started on a new recovery policy that he planned to bring back at an early date.

Councillor R D Bayliss reminded Members that the Authority was part of the Leicestershire Partnership for Revenues and Benefits and that any amendments to the collection policy would need to be implemented by the Partnership

Councillor N J Rushton stated that when debt recovery took place the Council didn’t want to be in second place to HMRC in receiving what was owed.

Councillor R Blunt stated that the Government planned to move back to local collection and therefore the Authority would have more control over the recovery. He added that the residents would want to know that the Council was doing what it could to bring the money in.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The write offs over £10,000 detailed in the report be approved.

2. The amounts written off under delegated powers be noted.

Reason for decision: To comply with proper accounting practices.