Issue - items at meetings - Income Collection & Recovery 2009/10 Quarter 1

Report of the Director of Finance & Resources (copy attached).

1.       That the report be noted.

22.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Finance & Resources, which updated the Member on income collection and recovery performance for 2009/10 as at quarter 1 (June 2009) and highlighted the improvement and best practice actions (for copy see minute book).

22.2    The Cabinet Member explained that the income collection reports complemented the Targeted Budget Management reports and paid particular attention to the performance of the teams responsible for collecting and recovering income. She noted that these regular updates served to give public assurance that business, services users and citizens paid their debts promptly and where this did not happen, the council could take quick and effective recovery action. She noted that the council was also mindful of the fact that some people and businesses may struggle to pay and, where this was the case, the council would support them by putting payment plans in place where it was possible. 

22.3    The Cabinet Member also noted that, overall, all income collection areas were performing well given the current economic climate, and the one area where performance was below target would be kept under review.

22.4    The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour, enquired whether there had been an increase in the direct debit take up on Housing Rents since the Direct Debit campaign that had taken place in the previous year. 

22.5    The Assistant Director Financial Services reported that there had been an increase in take up from 23% to 26%. He noted that even though the increase had been relatively slow, it was steadily improving.

22.6    The Opposition Spokesperson referred to paragraph 4.2 of the report and sought clarification as to the reasons why the delays in processing safe custody customs occurred in the Adult Social Care section.  

22.7    The Assistant Director Financial Services explained that the delays were due to internal processing, but that cash had actually been received. He noted that the DWP had changed its processing system and the way in which electronic data was provided and that this had had an impact on transferring the information to the council’s systems and, consequently, to debtors’ accounts. 

22.8    RESOLVED - That the report be noted.