Decisions and Recommendations

The Officer Scheme of Delegation (paragraph 2.13) authorises the Chief Finance Officer to:

Take any steps necessary for the recovery of debts and write off irrecoverable amounts up to the limits determined by the Financial Procedure Rules

The Financial Procedure Rules in the Council’s Constitution set out the approval process for debt write off in accordance with the following limits:

• For debts up to £1,000 - Chief Finance Officer; and
• For debts between £1,000 and £5,000 - Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council

The debts in the restricted enclosure between £1,000 and £5,000 are recommended for write off by the Chief Finance Officer.

Recovering debt is a key priority of the Council and writing off any debt is either a last resort or a necessity where recovery is legally prohibited, for example where there is a Debt Relief Order in place or the debtor has been made bankrupt.

Where debts are recommended for write off for other reasons, all possible attempts at tracing and recovery will have been made.

The debts recommended for write off are detailed in the restricted enclosure and summarised below:
• Business Rates – 22 debts totalling £60,507.42
• Council Tax – 105 debts totalling £204,268.18
• Housing Benefit overpayments – 20 debts totalling £39,240.86
• Sundry Debts – 1 debt for £2,160.50

Decision: Approval to write off the irrecoverable debts in the restricted enclosure.

The Officer Scheme of Delegation (paragraph 2.13) authorises the Chief Finance Officer to:

Take any steps necessary for the recovery of debts and write off irrecoverable amounts up to the limits determined by the Financial Procedure Rules

The Financial Procedure Rules in the Council’s Constitution set out the approval process for debt write off in accordance with the following limits:

• For debts up to £1,000 - Chief Finance Officer; and
• For debts between £1,000 and £5,000 - Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council

The debts related to this decision are below £1,000 and are recommended for write off by the Chief Finance Officer.

Recovering debt is a key priority of the Council and writing off any debt is either a last resort or a necessity where recovery is legally prohibited, for example where there is a Debt Relief Order in place or the debtor has been made bankrupt.
Where debts are recommended for write off for other reasons, all possible attempts at tracing and recovery will have been made.
The debts recommended for write off are detailed in the restricted enclosure and summarised below:
• Business Rates – 8 debts totalling £2,414.85
• Council Tax – 350 debts totalling £101,129.98
• Benefit overpayments – 120 debts totalling £31,910.85
• Sundry debts – 10 debts totalling £829.15

Decision: Approval to write off the irrecoverable debts

Award of Rental Grant Subsidy for Age Concern Banstead of £6,534 per annum