Decision details

Exempt report - To consider bad debt write offs that cannot be written off under delegated authority

The Director of Finance submitted an exempt report which provided a summary of the accounts proposed for write-offs and requested approval for the write-offs.

Resolved

(1)          That, having given due consideration, the proposed bad debt write offs recommended for write-off relating to Business Rates be approved.

(2)          That, having given due consideration, the proposed bad debt write offs recommended for write-off relating to other sundry debts be approved.

(3)          That, having due consideration, the proposed bad debt write offs recommended for write-off relating to Housing Benefit Overpayments be approved.

Reasons

There are certain circumstances where it is practically or legally impossible to collect outstanding debts due to the Council. The Council’s financial procedure rules require that recommended write offs with an outstanding balance of £5,000 and above for Council Tax, Overpayment of Housing Benefit or Sundry Debtors, and £10,000 and above for Non- Domestic Rates must be approved by the Executive.

Alternative options

Option One: Not to agree the recommendations. This is not recommended as it is good practice to write off any irrecoverable debts on a regular basis.