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

To receive an update on risk management for Q3 2020/21

For the Executive to approve the strategic risks for 2021/22

To consider the Council's performance for Q3 2020/21

Local voluntary, community or faith sector organisations who have been awarded Medium Grants Funding in 2021/22 financial year.
Age Concern MRR awarded £5,250 for start-up costs for Charity Log Software Programme and to replace two computers in the charity office in Merstham
Autism All Stars Foundation UK awarded £7,050 for therapy/advice and resources for parents of autistic children
Crossroads Care awarded £10,000 for volunteer community outreach and befriending with digital tech project – support for unpaid carers in the borough
Kingswood TFC awarded £519 for Run the Rec – provides an opportunity for residents to join a free event which could be the first step in improving their health and an opportunity to take a walk around a local green space and meet other residents
Loveworks awarded £4,875 for support staffing for foodbank activity in Merstham and Woodhatch
Merstham Mix Café awarded £10,685 for hot meal delivery service, currently for Merstham postcodes only, expanding to cover RH1 & RH2 for a further 6 months
Reigate Priory Athletic Club awarded £5,000 for floodlight repairs & extension – installing LED floodlights on timers to allow more use of the Battlebridge Recreation Ground for the community and reduce light pollution
Sight for Surrey awarded £3,000 for eye clinic liaison service – wellbeing support for those receiving a sight/ hearing impairment diagnosis
Surrey Welfare Rights Unit awarded £5,000 for specialist benefits advice service – expert advice on complex enquiries for frontline staff in the borough who are supporting vulnerable households
The Include Project awarded £2,000 for structural growth for sustainability – funding to contribute to the recruitment of a business development manager to develop inclusive communication activities and training
YMCA East Surrey awarded £6,475 for virtual evening exercise sessions for GP exercise referrals and those recovering from COVID

Nominated local voluntary, community or faith sector organisations to receive Small Grants Funding in 2020/21 financial year.
Age Concern Banstead awarded £1,000 to support the cost of equipment for the lunch club
Banstead Cricket Club awarded £1,950 to cover improvement works to the Cricket Pavilion
Banstead District Scouts awarded £1,200 to replace the hot water boiler allowing external hot water facilities at the camping and outdoor activity site
Brigitte Trust awarded £2,000 to provide support and training to volunteer befrienders and support for a neurological support group
Festive Feast on Wheels – B5 churches awarded £1,000 to support delivery costs of the Festive Feast for vulnerable and isolated residents in the north of the borough
Furnistore awarded £2,000 to develop and instal a direct web-sales website at Furnistore, along with initial training for staff and key volunteers to increase access to low-cost household items
Horley Association of Traders (HATS) awarded £1,980 to support the cost of tables and a marquee for community events. The marquee will be available for use by other local voluntary organisations
Horley Girl Guides Empire Hall awarded £1,800 to support the cost of urgent electrical work
Infinity Space To Grow awarded £1368 to support the costs of two support groups for new parents
Kingswood Residents Association awarded £650 to support the upgrade of their website - www.kingswoodvillage.org - which provides information and news to local residents and visitors
Kingswood Village Hall Community Association awarded £900 to support the cost of urgent window repairs to the Village Hall
Lower Kingswood Church Hall awarded £1,000 to support the cost of replacing the hot water boiler
MCFT awarded £500 to support the costs of delivering a community consultation led by MCFT on the new community space on the Watercolour estate
Merstham Cricket Club awarded £1,000 to cover the cost of indoor training for the disability cricket club
Merstham Mix awarded £2,000 to provide cooked lunches for vulnerable and isolated residents (face to face or delivered depending on COVID restrictions)
Open Door Enterprises coffee shop awarded £2,000 to support the costs of equipment to provide a COVID-secure offer and provide outside seating for community users
Renewed Hope awarded £1,000 to support the cost of roof repairs to Shrewsbury Chapel, where the daily drop-in is held for homeless and isolated people
Stripey Stork awarded £2,000 to support the Santa Stork project providing gifts to children in vulnerable and low-income families
The 9th Reigate Scout group awarded £2,000 to support the cost of replacing a fire escape door as part of a wider programme of building improvements and to allow for COVID safe use of the building
The Include Choir awarded £2,000 to support the running costs of the extended choir sessions for those with communication difficulties being delivered virtually during COVID
Timperley Cooking Club awarded £1,800 to support the purchase of equipment to allow for expansion of the cookery club, which is attended by mothers on a low income and isolated
Welcare awarded £2,000 to support the Family Crisis Fund that has seen increased demand due to COVID