Issue - meetings

Report No: CAB/JT/18/045

Portfolio Holders: FHDC Cllr Stephen Edwards and SEBC Cllr Ian Houlder

Lead Officer: Greg Stevenson

RESOLVED:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the exempt Appendices to Report No: CAB/JT/18/045, be approved as follows:

1.           Exempt Appendix 1: FHDC Council Tax totalling £2,731.33.

2.           Exempt Appendix 2: SEBC Council Tax totalling £169,454.08.

3.           Exempt Appendix 3: SEBC Business Rates totalling £22,292.16.

4.           Exempt Appendix 4: FHDC Sundry Debt (Housing Benefit Overpayments) totalling £24,740.18.

5.           Exempt Appendix 5: FHDC Sundry Debt (Property Services) totalling £2,902.91.

6.           Exempt Appendix 6: SEBC Sundry Debt (Property Services) totalling £5,796.38.

(Report No: CAB/JT/18/045)

The Joint Committee received this report which provided the collection data in respect of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates for both Forest Heath District Council (FHDC) and St Edmundsbury Borough Council (SEBC) and sought approval for the write-off of the amounts contacted in the Exempt Appendices to this report.

Councillors Stephen Edwards and Ian Houlder, FHDC and SEBC Portfolio Holders for Resources and Performance respectively, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Joint Committee, including the current performance of each authority, as set out in Section 3 of the report.

The Portfolio Holders also explained that the process of vetting cases for write-offs had also been more vigorous this year, to be able to move into a single Council with debts that were economically viable to collect. 

Councillor John Griffiths also explained that he had received correspondence from Councillor Diane Hind, Chairman of SEBC Overview and Scrutiny Committee, expressing her concerns over the debt collection and write-off processes.  Cllr Griffiths confirmed that he would respond back to Councillor Hind accordingly, addressing the concerns raised.

RESOLVED:

That the write-off of the amounts detailed in the exempt Appendices to Report No: CAB/JT/18/045, be approved as follows:

1.           Exempt Appendix 1: FHDC Council Tax totalling £2,731.33.

2.           Exempt Appendix 2: SEBC Council Tax totalling £169,454.08.

3.           Exempt Appendix 3: SEBC Business Rates totalling £22,292.16.

4.           Exempt Appendix 4: FHDC Sundry Debt (Housing Benefit Overpayments) totalling £24,740.18.

5.           Exempt Appendix 5: FHDC Sundry Debt (Property Services) totalling £2,902.91.

6.           Exempt Appendix 6: SEBC Sundry Debt (Property Services) totalling £5,796.38.