Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced the performance report covering the final quarter of the 2020/21 financial year and a full-year overview in respect of the Council’s debt management functions.

The Cabinet Member referred to the considerable impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had had on collection rates over the past year and the actions being taken by the Council to support those who found themselves unable to pay their rent, Council Tax and/or Business Rates as a result.  The Council’s ethical approach to debt management and recovery had resulted in over 50,000 telephone calls being made to Council tenants over the last year to discuss their situation and offer advice and support.  The Cabinet Member stressed, however, that whilst the Council was doing all it could to support those who were unable to pay their bills, it was equally vigilant in pursuing those who chose not to pay.

The stark increase in the number of residents claiming Universal Credit since the start of the pandemic had continued, with an estimated 33,034 claimants at the end of March 2021 compared to 13,913 claimants in February 2020.  Members expressed their concern at the length of time that areas with high levels of depravation such as Barking and Dagenham would take to fully recover, particularly in view of the Government’s decision to end the furlough scheme in July 2021.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the performance of the debt management function carried out by the Council’s Revenues service for quarter 4 of 2020/21; and

(ii)  Note the impact of COVID-19 on collection levels across all revenue streams and the continued recovery techniques applied to reduce the impact of the pandemic.