Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report which had been requested at a previous meeting relating to the Authority’s sundry debt position together with the background and processes involved in recovering such debts. The Head of Financial Services and the Portfolio Holder for Finance responded to queries from the Board in relation to the debts relating to particular Council services, including the amounts of debt typically involved. The impact on the revenue budget was also highlighted.

It was noted that in the light of current national financial situation a number of staff in the Finance section and at the Customer Service Centre, had received additional training relating to debt management and were therefore able to offer assistance to debtors in areas such as alternative methods of payment or discussing payment plans.

In relation to the processes undertaken to recover debts as set out in section 3.9 of the report it was suggested that it may be possible to streamline the required legal procedures by using the Courts Services online system. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

RECOMMENDED that with a view to streamlining the current sundry debt collection process, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Head of Financial Services be requested to explore the possibility of making use of Money Claim Online, which is Her Majesty’s Courts Service online facility.