Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Central Services introduced the performance report for the fourth quarter period ending 31 March 2015 in respect of the debt management function carried out by the Revenues and Benefits Service within Elevate East London, together with performance data for the full year.

The Cabinet Member referred to the overall positive collection rates for 2014/15 but warned that the Government’s welfare reforms would impact on many residents in the Borough so it was even more important to closely monitor rent and Council Tax payments to ensure that residents were supported as early as possible if they began having difficulty making payments.  Clarification was also provided in respect of some of the variations in debt and collection levels at 31 March this year compared to last.

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 fourth quarter of 2014/15 and that a number of the debts would be published in accordance with the policy agreed by Cabinet.