Agenda item

To provide details of actions taken under delegated powers.

An information item on the actions taken under delegated powers was submitted.  The actions were as set out below:-

Education and Youth

• Local Authority Appointed School Governors

Appointment of Local Authority Governor(s) representatives on school governing bodies in accordance with The Government of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2005.

Housing and Asssets

• Council Rent – Application to Write Off Tenancy Arrears

Financial Procedure Rules (section 5.2) stipulates that individual bad and irrecoverable debts in excess of £5,000 are considered for write off in conjunction with the relevant Cabinet Member.  The decision to write off is in respect of two separate cases where tenants are subject to Debt Relief Orders (DROs).  In the first case, rent arrears of £6,356.86 are included in the DRO.  In the second case, the rent arrears of £9,361.53 are included in the DRO.  The arrears are no longer recoverable in either case.

• Housing Benefit Overpayment

Financial Procedure Rules (section 5.2) stipulates that individual bad and irrecoverable debts in excess of £5,000 are considered for write off in conjunction with the relevant Cabinet Member.  The decision to write off is in respect of one customer who is subject to a Debt Relief Order (DRO).  The Housing Benefit Overpayment of £6,397.83 is included in the DRO which is now irrecoverable as a result of the award of the DRO.

• Housing Benefit Overpayment

We have an overpayment of £14,713.92 for the period 06.04.15 to 29.09.19.  The overpayment has been referred to fraud however they sent it to compliance so it cannot be treated as fraud.  A Debt Relief Order (DRO) has now been received that includes our debt so we are unable to recover the overpayment.

Executive Office

• Amendment to Council Community Chest Grant Scheme to Reduce the Time Limits Within Which Local Authorities can Re-apply for funding

The Council’s Community Chest Grant provides grants of up to £1,000 for local community organisations who meet the grant criteria.  Successful organisations cannot re-apply for a new grant within a three year financial period of receiving a grant of £1,000 from this fund.   This has meant that some applications, that would otherwise be successful, are rejected on this basis whilst there is surplus money available which is not awarded each financial year.  Reducing the time limit to a two year (rolling) period in which organisations can re-apply for the funding will ensure timely, financial support is available to local organisations and ensure the fund is fully allocated each financial year.

Revenues

• Business Rates Write Offs

The Corporate Finance Manager and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Management and Assets are authorised to write off debts between £5k and £25k.  A Business Rate debt totalling £17.428 for Nite Stop Ltd, T/A A55 Holiday inn is irrecoverable and has been written off as the company entering into liquidation and was wound up on 20^th July 2021.

• Council Tax Write Offs

The Corporate Finance Manager and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Management and Assets are authorised to write off debts between £5k and £25k.  Three Council Tax debts totalling £16,910.49 are deemed to be irrecoverable and are subject to write off.