Meeting documents
Executive (I)
Tuesday, 21st January, 2014
| REPORT TO: | |
| DECISION NUMBER: | PH/8/2014 |
| EARLIEST DATE FOR DECISION: | 21st January 2014 |
SUNDRY DEBT WRITE OFFS | |
| Matter for Consideration: This report lists applications to write off outstanding balance of Sundry Debts where there is no prospect of recovery or recovery of the debt is inappropriate. The Corporate Write Off Policy states that all individual debts over £5,000 must be authorised by the Executive (or by way of an Executive decision). | |
| Information: Service Area- Benefit Overpayments Amount £6,222 Invoice reference 59095587. The debt relates to overpayment of Housing Benefit from September 2009 to January 2011. Benefit was awarded treating the claimant as a lone parent student, not including her asylum seeker husband as partner on the claim as he had no recourse to public funds and could not claim benefit or work. Benefit was awarded incorrectly as although the partner could not claim, he should have been included in the claim making the claimant ineligible to claim as she was no longer a lone parent student. All the details of the partner were disclosed when the claim was submitted but assessed incorrectly. Debt put forward for write off due to Local Authority and all recovery options explored. Service Area- Benefit Overpayments Amount £6,643.56 Invoice reference 59027982 This debt relates to the overpayment of Housing Benefit for the period April 20045 to July 2007. The claimant was a Council tenant in receipt of Pension Credit and recovery was being made from ongoing Housing Benefit. The claimant died on the 20th October 2009 and had no funds or estate. Debt put forward for write off as debtor deceased and all recovery options explored. Service Area- Benefit Overpayments Amount £5,122.09 Invoice reference 59018218 This debt relates to overpayment of Housing Benefit for the period April 2006 to July 2008. The claimant was in rented accommodation and in receipt of Housing Benefit based on Pension Credit and recovery was being made from ongoing Housing Benefit. The claimant died on the 25th December 2011 and had no funds or estate. Debt put forward for write off as debtor deceased and all recovery options explored. Service Area Adult Social Care Amount £5276.76 Invoice reference 30057771. This debt relates to unpaid clients contributions from 30th March 2010 to 27th February 2011 in a Care Home. The client's brother was supposed to pay the client's care charges at this time but did not pay the home and the case was referred to Safeguarding Adults. Appointeeship was then given to the Care Home Manager from the 1st March 2011 and care charges have been paid to date. The client has no property and no capital and is only allowed mandatory pocket money each week and therefore has no money to pay these arrears. The debt cannot be reclaimed from the current appointeeship as there is only money to pay current care and the client's pocket money. As the brother was not an official appointee he cannot be pursued as the debt was not his. Therefore, the debt is put forward for write off as no prospect of recovery. | |
| Does the information submitted include any exempt information? | NO |
| Legal Considerations: None | |
| Personnel Considerations: None | |
| Financial Considerations: There is bad debt provision set aside for writing off uncollectable debts so there is no direct financial impact on the Council's budget. | |
| Performance Management Considerations: Sums which remain uncollectable and not written off reduce the Council's collections performance which is monitored on a monthly basis. | |
| Risk Management Considerations: None | |
| Relevant Officer: Marie McRoberts. Assistant Treasurer- Revenues, Benefits and Transactional Services | |
| Relevant Cabinet Member: Councillor S. Blackburn | |
| Consultation Undertaken: None | |
| Background Papers: None | |
| Is this a key decision? | NO |
| Is the decision required in less than 5 days? | NO |
| Recommendations: That the 4 accounts detailed in this report totalling £23,264.57 are authorised for write off. | |
| Reasons for Recommendations: To ensure correct accounting practices and adherance to the Corporate Write Off Policy. | |
| Is the recommendation contrary to a plan or strategy adopted or approved by the Council? | NO |
| Is the recommendation in accordance with the Council’s approved Budget? | YES |
| Other alternative options to be considered: | |
| Policy, Overview, and Scrutiny Committee Chairman (where appropriate) Date Informed: N/A Date Approved: N/A | |
| DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST (if applicable) None | |
| Decision: The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely: That the 4 accounts detailed in this report totalling £23,264.57 are authorised for write off. | |
| Date: | 21st January 2014 |
| Reason for Decision: To ensure correct accounting practices and adherence to the Corporate Write Off Policy. | |
Date of Publication: | 21st January 2014 |
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