Issue - meetings

Committee is asked to review and approve the proposed amendments to the Corporate Debt Policy.

The Committee resolved to approve the proposed amendments to the Corporate Debt Policy.

The Committee considered a report that sought approval of the proposed amendments to the Corporate Debt Policy.

The Leader read out the following statement:

“The Corporate Debt Policy required a review to make it clearer and to meet the latest best practice guidelines. The new policy focuses on making it clear to customers the different types of debt and how the Council recovers those different types of debt. It also outlines support for those dealing with debt.

The Council is committed to serving the community by ensuring monies owed to the Council are collected efficiently and effectively. This benefits all taxpayers and helps to prevent anyone from falling into debt. With the cost of living crisis we see more people struggling and by adopting a clear policy with early contact and consolidated action, we should be able to assist customers as far as possible in paying their debts”.

The Committee queried whether the Citizen Advice Bureau still provided a service at Sunbury Library as quoted in the report. The Committee were advised that this would be checked and Committee members would be advised.

Concerns were raised with regard to recovery of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates and in particular how rapid the recovery process seemed to be. The Committee were advised that any resident or business that were struggling to pay their Council Tax/ Business Rates should contact the Council as soon as they fell into arrears. The Programme Manager advised that the back of the Reminders and Final Notices issued by the Council provided information to residents/businesses on what they could do next with regard to their arrears. The Committee were told that a copy of the back of the Reminders and Final Notices for both Council Tax and Business Rates would be sent to them so that they were aware of the information/advice given.

The Committee resolved to approve the proposed amendments to the Corporate Debt Policy.