Agenda

DEBT RECOVERY 2022-23

Executive Summary

This is an annual report detailing the council’s collection performance and debt management arrangements for 2022/23

The report includes a:

§  A summary of debts written off in each debt area showing the reasons for write-off and values.

§  Collection performance for Council Tax and Non- Domestic Rates.

§  Level of arrears outstanding

§  Level of provision for bad and doubtful debts

Options considered

To leave the write off limits as they currently are allowing team leaders to write off up to £2k and the Revenues Manger up to £10k or to increase these to a higher figure.

Consultation(s)

Your report must include details of any internal or external consultation processes undertaken. If consultation has not been necessary – state, why

Recommendations

This is a recommendation to Full Council.

1. To approve the annual report giving details of the Council’s write-offs in accordance with the Council’s Debt Write-Off Policy and performance in relation to revenues collection.
2. To approve the suggested changes to the delegated authority as shown in appendix 2 for write offs.

Reasons for recommendations

Recommendations to approve the annual report giving details of the Council’s write-offs in accordance with the Council’s Debt Write-Off Policy and performance in relation to revenues collection and the suggested delegated authorisation changes to ensure the Council seeks best use of its staff resources and manages the finances to ensure best value for money.

Background papers

Corporate Debt Management and Recovery Policy Appendix 1, Debt Write Off Policy Appendix 2 and Enforcement Agent Code of Practice and Enforcement Agent Instructions Appendix 3.

Wards affected

All wards

Cabinet member(s)

Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

Sean Knight

Revenues Manger

Sean.Knight@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

List here which corporate plan priorities (if any) that your proposals are linked to

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)        

Maximises Income of revenues.

Council Policies & Strategies

Corporate Debt Management and Recovery Policy and Debt Write Off Policy

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 Yes.

Has the public interest test been applied

 Yes.

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

September 2022, 2021/22, Debt Report.

BUDGET MONITORING P4 2023/24

Executive Summary

This report summarises the budget monitoring position for the revenue account, capital programme and reserves statement to the end of July 2023.

The overall position at the end of July 2023 shows a £3,905,574 underspend for the current financial year on the revenue account, this is however currently expected to deliver a full year overspend of £25,000.

Options considered

Not applicable

Consultation(s)

Cabinet Member

Section 151 officer

Budget Managers

Recommendations

It is recommended that Cabinet:

1)     Note the contents of the report and the current budget monitoring position.

Recommend the following to Full Council:

2)     That a new capital budget of £0.050m is added to the capital programme to fund repair works to the Marrams Footpath, with funding coming from the Council’s Capital Receipts.

3)     That a new capital budget of £0.370m is added to the capital programme to demolish and rebuild the Public Conveniences at Albert Street, Holt with £0.120m to be funded from an insurance claim and £0.250m to be funded from the Council’s Capital Receipts.

4)     That a new capital budget of £1.040m is added to the capital programme in respect of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

5)     That the current Provision of Temporary Accommodation Budget is increased by £0.178m to £0.983m for 2023/24 following receipt of the Local Authority Housing Fund grant.

6)     That a capital budget of £1.458m be added to the capital programme for the Rural England Prosperity Fund expenditure and £0.266m be added to the capital programme for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund expenditure as shown in paragraph 4.7 and note that this will be funded by external funding.

7)     That a capital budget of £14.610m be added to the capital programme as shown in paragraph 4.8 and note that the project will be funded by external funding. 

Reasons for recommendations

To update members on the current budget monitoring position for the Council.

Background papers

Finance system budget monitoring reports

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Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

s151 Tina Stanley, Tina.stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

Budgets set to support the Corporate Plan objectives.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)        

Budget process in line with MTFS

Council Policies & Strategies

Service Budgets set in line with the council policies and strategies

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 no

Has the public interest test been applied

Not an exempt item

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

N/A

Summary:

This report provides the update for Members on a range of enforcement related issues arising from the work of the Enforcement Board.

Conclusions:

The Enforcement Board continues to make progress towards its objectives of dealing with difficult and long-standing enforcement cases and bringing long term empty properties (LTE) back into use, across all areas of the district.

The Combined Enforcement Team continues working to reduce the backlog on the planning enforcement cases and ensuring that property level Council Tax enforcement is taken forward at the earliest opportunity.

Recommendations:

Reasons for

Recommendations:

1.     That the Committee notes the continued progress of the Enforcement Board and the Combined Enforcement Team

1.     To ensure appropriate governance of the Board’s activities

2.     To show the progress of Combined Enforcement Team cases and contribution to the work of the Enforcement Board

PLANNING SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE

Executive Summary

This report provides an update on the progress of the Planning Service Improvement Plan, an analysis of response times for consultees and initial feedback on customer service responses.

Options considered

This report does not consider options

Consultation(s)

This report does contain feedback from customers.

Recommendations

a)     That the content of this report is noted, and

b)     That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee decide whether - or not - they would like a further report on progress / completion of the Planning Service Improvement Plan – along with yearend data for 2023/24 to be added to their 2024/25 work plan (e.g. during ‘Quarter 2’)

Reasons for recommendations

Prepared at the request of the Committee

Background papers

N/A

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Andrew Brown

Contact Officer

Russell Williams

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

Customer Focus

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)        

No direct links to the MTFS

Council Policies & Strategies

 Not applicable

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

No

Has the public interest test been applied

N/A

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

O&S meeting 15.02.23

Summary:

Options considered:

The Managing Performance Report attached, as Appendix A, enables the Council to assess delivery against objectives detailed in the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2019-2023 and operational service performance for the first quarter of the 2023/24 civic year – i.e. 1^st April – 30^th June 2023.

Options considering action regarding performance are presented separately, issue by issue, to the appropriate Council Committee where committee approval is required.

Conclusions:

Good progress was made over the first quarter of 2023/24 in areas of core service delivery and in respect of key Corporate Plan projects and objectives as detailed in the report.

This was achieved alongside the preparations for the Full Council elections on 4^th May and the delivery of the new member induction programme and the forming of the new council administration, new Committees and work undertaken to prepare a new Corporate Plan for the period 2023 – 2027, which was approved through Committee and Council processes in the July cycle of meetings.

Recommendations:

Reasons for

Recommendations:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be invited to consider and comment upon issues within the report for subsequent consideration by the Cabinet.

To ensure the objectives of the Council are achieved.

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Tim Adams

Ward(s) affected

All

OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

Executive Summary

This report aims to provide the Council with an outline of the role of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, a summary of the work undertaken throughout 2022-23, and highlight any issues encountered by the Committee during this period.

Options considered

N/A

Consultation(s)

O&S Chairman

Recommendations

It is recommended that Council notes the report, affirms the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee,  and considers the following concerns raised within the key issues section of the report:

·        A high number of apologies and limited substitute availability needs to be addressed by Group Leaders.

·        Requested information has not been provided in a timely or satisfactory manner and needs to be addressed by officers.

·        Delayed finance reports have had an ongoing impact on the work programme that needs to be addressed by officers.

·        Non-attendance of the PCC at short notice impacted the Committee’s crime and disorder update, and substitutes will therefore be requested in future.

Reasons for recommendations

To inform Council of the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in 2022-23 and address concerns raised.

Background papers

Overview & Scrutiny work programme 2022-23

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

N/A

Contact Officer

Matt Stembrowicz - Democratic Services & Governance Officer (Scrutiny)  Tel: 01263 516047

Email: Matthew-stembrowicz@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

All

Medium Term Financial Strategy

N/A

Council Policies & Strategies

N/A

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

No

Has the public interest test been applied

N/A

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

N/A

Delegated Decisions (March to August 2023)

Executive Summary

This report details the decisions taken under delegated powers from March to August 2023.

Options considered

Not applicable – the recording and reporting of delegated decisions is a statutory requirement.

Consultation(s)

Consultation is not required as this report and accompanying appendix is for information only. No decision is required and the outcome cannot be changed as it is historic, factual information.

Recommendations

To receive and note the report and the register of decisions taken under delegated powers.

Reasons for recommendations

The Constitution: Chapter 6, Part 5, sections 5.1 and 5.2 details the exercise of any power or function of the Council where waiting until a meeting of Council or a committee would disadvantage the Council. The Constitution requires that any exercise of such powers should be reported to the next meeting of Council, Cabinet or working party (as appropriate)

Section 2.1 sets out the requirements regarding the reporting of conditional delegated decisions.

Background papers

Signed delegated decision forms.

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Leader, Cllr T Adams

Contact Officer

Emma Denny, Democratic Services Manager,emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

N/A

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

N/A – information report only

Council Policies & Strategies

N/A

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 No

Has the public interest test been applied

Yes – no exempt information is included.

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

Dates of any Cabinet decisions providing delegated authority are included in the attached appendix.