Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/039

Cabinet Member: Ian Houlder         Lead Officers: Rachael Mann and Jo Howlett

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Sundry Debt Management and Recovery Policy, contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/15/039, be approved.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/15/039 (previously circulated), which sought approval for a new West Suffolk Sundry Debt Management and Recovery Policy.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet, including that the draft policy set out the mechanism for invoicing, collection and recovery of sundry debts across Forest Heath District and St Edmundsbury Borough Councils (West Suffolk).

The policy document, which was attached as Appendix A, replaced previous policies of the two councils by bringing them together into a single document, and updating the content to reflect the changes introduced by the single financial management system. This policy excluded the activities and debt of the Council through its revenues and benefits services by Anglia Revenues Partnership – this was the subject of a separate policy (Report No: CAB/SE/15/038 refers).

The new draft also placed greater emphasis on pre-payment for services using online methods, in light of the Councils’ channel shift agenda and proposed roll out of more self-service payment options.

A discussion was held on the recovery of sundry debts from customers within the ‘won’t pay’ category as opposed to those that genuinely ‘can’t pay’.

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Sundry Debt Management and Recovery Policy, contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/15/039, be approved.