Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Finance, Governance & Assurance on the Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit Overpayment Debt Collection Policy.

RESOLVED

That the following paragraph be inserted into the Introduction of the Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit Overpayment Debt Collection Policy:  ‘We are aware that people fall into arrears for a number of different reasons.  We are conscious that some people fall regularly into arrears, and other people are in arrears for the first time due to losing employment for example.  We are committed that everyone will be treated sensitively, fairly, and realistically.  We would stress that this is a two way process and that taxpayers need to be confident enough to approach us and are willing to take steps to sort out their problems themselves, if we are going to have any chance of helping them.’ 

That with this amendment, the Council policy for Debt Collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit Overpayment set out in Appendix A be approved.

That the Council Policy for Debt Collection of Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefit Overpayment should be reviewed every three years.