Response 1838854

Response to request for information

Reference

1838854

Response date

19 September 2023

Request

1. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental debt collection policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
2. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental write-off policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
3. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes enforcement agents to collect statutory debts? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? Additionally, please provide a list of the types of debts for which enforcement agents are used.
4. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes debt collection agents (DCA) to collect debts owed to the organization? ? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? please provide a list of the types of debts for which Debt collection agents are used.
5. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a local authority-owned enforcement agent facility for undertaking "taking control of goods fees regulations" debt collections? If yes, please provide a list of debts for which this the debts the team collects, and kindly provide a copy of the notice of enforcement that is used.
6. Please confirm the total amount of debt written off by your local authority for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Please break down the figures by debt area, such as Council Tax, Parking, and Sundry Debt etc.

Response

1. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental debt collection policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
   • Depending on the service area the debt comes from will depend on the way the recovery of debt is carried out, for example Council Tax has different procedures to Sundry Debtors and debt incurred due to legislation may legally have a set recovery process. 
   • Council Tax Recovery and Enforcement Policy 2023
   • NNDR Recovery and Enforcement Policy 2023

   • I have also included a separate document that is our main Sundry Debtor recovery process.

2. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental write-off policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
   • As per the above this will be dependent on the legislation in place. If debt is considered for write-off this is included within the recovery policies
3. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes enforcement agents to collect statutory debts? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? Additionally, please provide a list of the types of debts for which enforcement agents are used.

   • Yes the Council uses 4 bailiff companies but receives no added value services.

      

   • Enforcement Agents are for Council Tax and Business Rates

4. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes debt collection agents (DCA) to collect debts owed to the organization? ? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? please provide a list of the types of debts for which Debt collection agents are used.

   Yes the Council uses the same agents as with Council Tax and Business Rates for sundry debtor collection. Sundry debtors include but not limited to Licensing, Council property rents, Sceptic tank emptying.

5. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a local authority-owned enforcement agent facility for undertaking "taking control of goods fees regulations" debt collections? If yes, please provide a list of debts for which this the debts the team collects, and kindly provide a copy of the notice of enforcement that is used.

   No Rushcliffe Borough Council does not

6. Please confirm the total amount of debt written off by your local authority for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Please break down the figures by debt area, such as Council Tax, Parking, and Sundry Debt etc.

   Please note the Council’s Car Parking is dealt with via a Service Level Agreement with another Local Authority.

   Debt written off include those relating to deceased cases, cases unable to trace and bankruptcies/IVAs

   • 2021-22
     • Council Tax - £185,000
     • Non Domestic Rates - £66,000
     • Sundry Debtors - £243.17
   • 2022-23
     • Council Tax - £157,000
     • Non Domestic Rates - £0
     • Sundry Debtors - £8,402.83