Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment introduced the performance report for the second quarter of the 2017/18 financial year in respect of the debt management function carried out by the Revenues and Benefits Service within Elevate East London.

The Cabinet Member advised that performance levels remained stable despite the significant challenges brought about by the Government’s austerity programme.  In response to the suggestion that the Council could do more to collect recoverable debts, the Cabinet Member commented that he felt that the Council’s current approach struck the right balance as there were arrangements in place to support those that were unable to pay alongside robust collection and enforcement arrangements for those that chose not to pay.  Reference was also made to the Council’s efforts to reduce ‘grime crime’ through effective publicity and enforcement, as well as other positive initiatives such as the Council’s house-building programme aimed at low earners.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the performance of the debt management function carried out by the Revenues and Benefits service operated by Elevate East London, including the performance of enforcement agents; and

(ii)  Note the debt write-offs for the second quarter of 2017/18, as detailed in Appendix A to the report.