Issue - meetings

            That the report be noted. 

The Head of Finance introduced David Barnes, Revenues Manager, to the Committee. 

                        The Revenues Manager introduced a report to provide Members with details of a report on the introduction of a Corporate Debt Policy that was to be considered by Cabinet in December 2012.  He explained that the policy formed part of the Council’s Corporate Priorities and had been produced as the Council did not currently have a formal policy in place that detailed the approach to raising of debt, the collection procedures carried out and the action taken to recover unpaid debts.  The policy had been developed to adopt best practice specifically in the area of sundry debt collection and provided an opportunity to formalise other well established procedures and regulations for the collection of council tax, business rates and housing benefit overpayments.  The Revenues Manager also detailed the key features which had been incorporated into the policy. 

                        Councillor C.S. Carver welcomed the introduction of the policy but queried the wording in the ‘summons stage’ of the document.  Officers explained that the document had been through an extensive consultation process with officers and there had been input from across the Authority.  It was agreed that officers would review the final document before submission to the Cabinet.

                        The Chief Executive said that the policy supported the increased number of Council services which were paid for online in advance.  The Cabinet Member for Corporate Management welcomed the policy and explained that he had asked for it to be submitted to this Committee prior to being considered at the Cabinet meeting in December 2012.

            RESOLVED:

            That the report be noted.