Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced the performance report for the second quarter of the financial year 2020/21 in respect of the debt management functions.  The Council’s Revenues, Benefits, General Income and Rents Service was operated by the Council’s joint venture company, Elevate East London LLP (Elevate) and it was noted that this service returned to the Council on the 1 September 2020.

The Cabinet Member stated that performance was stable and continuing to improve year on year in terms of overall cash collection, though continuing to be impacted by welfare reform measures.

Many of the standard debt recovery practices utilised by the Revenues Service were now unavailable due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since it had not been possible or appropriate to take enforcement action, a “softer” approach to collection has been taken. All reminder letters had been redesigned and the team had taken a firm but fair approach to discussions with residents, advising those experiencing financial difficulty to pay as much as possible. They had also recalculated instalments to be lower or to be paid later in the year.

Cabinet discussed the crucial importance of Reside in the current climate and the need to continue to expand the portfolio of properties to assist residents.

The Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration advised that the business rates grants scheme had now closed and the team had worked hard to ensure there had been no fraudulent applications approved.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the performance of the debt management function carried out by the Council’s Revenues service;

(ii)  Note the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on collection levels across all revenue streams; and

(iii)  Agree the revisions to the Council’s Debt Management Policy in respect of write-off thresholds and authorised officers, as detailed in paragraph 9 and Appendix 1 of the report.

Standing Order 7.1 (Part 2, Chapter 3, of the Council Constitution) was suspended at this juncture to enable the meeting to continue beyond the 8pm threshold.