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Executive (I)
Tuesday, 1st October, 2013

REPORT TO:10
DECISION NUMBER:PH/98/2013
EARLIEST DATE FOR DECISION:1st October 2013

SUNDRY DEBT WRITE OFFS
Matter for Consideration:
This report lists applications to write off outstanding balances 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 debt over £5,000 must be authorised by an Executive decision.
Information:
Service Area
Adults Social Care
Amount £7,717.50. The debt relates to overpayment of residential care charges relating to a client who died in January 2009. The home was paid for this client until July 2009 when they notified us of the client’s death. The care home had been disputing the rate at which they were paid as they should have been paid a higher rate according to the care home. The case has been reviewed and it is unclear at what rate the care home should have been paid and therefore whether an overpayment exists. Due to this lack of clarity and the lack of evidence the debt has been put forward for write off due to a Local Authority error.

Service Area
Adult Social Care
Total £6,838.67 The debt relates to an inaccurate assessment of the clients contribution to the care home fees in February 2010 where the contributions were assessed as a much lower rate than should have been collected. It came to light in August 2012 that the client had a widow’s pension and the case was reassessed and the client billed back to February 2010. The case was referred to the Local Government Ombudsman who has recommended that the Council writes off the debt off due to maladministration by the Council. Processes have now been changed and procedures put in place to stop this happening again. Debt put forward for write off due to Local Authority error.

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 collection 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 2 accounts detailed in this report totalling £14,556.17 are authorised for write off.
Reasons for Recommendations:
To ensure correct accounting procedure.
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:
None
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 2 accounts detailed in this report totalling £14,556.17 are authorised for write off.
Date:1st October 2013
Reason for Decision:
To ensure correct accounting procedure.

Date of Publication:		1st October 2013


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