Agenda item

Debt Recovery Report 2022-23

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.

 

Minutes:

Cllr J Toye introduced the report on behalf of Cllr L Shires and stated that the Council were the top in Norfolk and top five nationally for business rates collection, and top eleven nationally and second in Norfolk on council tax collection. He added that there had been a significant shift from housing benefit claims to universal credit during the pandemic, which had made recovery more difficult, as housing benefit mis-payments could not be recovered through universal credit.

 

Questions and Discussion

 

       i.          Cllr V Holliday stated that it was a difficult report to understand, but she had received support and advice from the RM. Cllr J Toye asked whether there were any points that made the report easier to understand, to which Cllr Holliday replied that it contained a lot of technical language and Covid movements had not been clearly labelled, which could be improved with a glossary of terms. Cllr S Penfold agreed that a glossary of terms would be particularly helpful.

 

      ii.          Cllr N Housden referred to the changes in housing benefit to universal credit, and stated that it would be useful to understand how and when this change had taken place. The RM replied that the report covered a number of services and stated that housing benefit overpayments and collections were a complex issue but information could be sought from HMRC.

 

     iii.          The RM stated that one of the key recommendations in the report was to increase the delegated authority limits for debt write-offs, with Team Leaders limits doubled to £4000, whilst the RM’s limit would double to £20k to make the service more efficient. He added that the DFR and deputy 151 officer would be given the authority to write-off debts of up to £30k whereas figures over this would be referred to the DFR or CE in liaison with the Portfolio Holder. It was noted that debts as a result of insolvency were unavoidable and could not be recovered, whilst other common reasons for write-offs included ‘gone aways’ where those with debts could not be found. The DFR referred to performance and stated that business rates arrears had stood at £329k, with £200k collected since 1st April brining total arrears down to £129k. He added that council tax arrears had stood at £4.1m, with £759k collected since 1st April, bringing the total down to £3.3m.

 

    iv.          Cllr N Housden stated that it would be helpful to know whether the number and level of debt write-offs was comparable to national standards, to which the RM replied that national guidance was provided and write-offs were treated with careful consideration.

 

      v.          The DFC stated that universal credit enabled a single payment of benefits, and whilst this did not affect all claimants, some benefits covered by this payment were now more difficult to reclaim. He added that it may be more efficient for benefit claimants, but did make the Council’s job more difficult.

 

    vi.          The recommendations were proposed by Cllr P Fisher and seconded by Cllr M Batey.

 

RESOLVED

 

To recommend the following 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.

 

Supporting documents: