Agenda item

The Executive considered a report proposing the write off of irrecoverable revenue bad debts over £1,500.

Members noted a schedule of bad debts for both Council Tax and Business Rates and sought clarification on the following:

(i)               Debtors in Prison – For those debtors listed as being in prison, what basis was used for determining whether or not to write off the bad debt?

(ii)             Longer Term Debts – Referring to businesses which had been in debt for a number of years, had mechanisms been put in place to trigger earlier actions?

The Finance Portfolio Holder reported that, although bad debts were written off, the debtors would be pursued should that possibility arise in the future. Mechanisms had been introduced to trigger winding up actions in response to multiple rent arrears. In relation to debtors in prison, whilst it was likely that the write-off was proposed due to their lack of assets rather than incarceration, the Portfolio Holder would review both areas and provide Members with an update.

Resolved, that bad debts totalling £47,722.84 in respect of Council Tax and £156,215.47 in respect of Non-Domestic Rates to be written-off in 2015-16.