Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – CUSTOMERS

To seek Cabinet approval for the adoption of a Fair Collection Policy supported by adoption of the Council Tax Protocol and use of the Standard Financial Statement.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That the Fair Collection Policy at Appendix 1 be adopted;

(2)     That the Council Tax Protocol at Appendix 6 2 be approved and adopted;

(3)     That it be noted that the Council now uses the Standard Financial Statement developed by the Money & Pension Service.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)     To incorporate existing practices used for the collection of money owed to the Council into an overarching policy;

(2)     To confirm the Council’s practices and procedures especially those relating to potentially vulnerable customers.

Audio recording – Session 1 – 36 minutes 10 seconds

The Executive Member for Finance and IT presented the report entitled Fair Collection Policy together with the following appendices:

·                Appendix 1 - Fair Collection Policy;

·                Appendix 2 - Stop the Knock;

·                Appendix 3 - Penham Excel Ltd - Information Leaflet;

·                Appendix 4 - Penham Excel Ltd - Vulnerability Policy;

·                Appendix 5 - Penham Excel Ltd - Vulnerability Policy Notes;

·                Appendix 6 - Council Tax Protocol;

·                Appendix 7 - Equality Impact Assessment;

·                Appendix 8 - Standard Financial Statement.

Councillor David Levett, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented the referral from the meeting of the Committee meeting on 21 January 2020 regarding the Fair Collection Policy.

He advised that the Committee recommended to Cabinet that the Draft Fair Collection Policy be adopted.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That the Fair Collection Policy at Appendix 1 be adopted;

(2)     That the Council Tax Protocol at Appendix 6 2 be approved and adopted;

(3)     That it be noted that the Council now uses the Standard Financial Statement developed by the Money & Pension Service.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)     To incorporate existing practices used for the collection of money owed to the Council into an overarching policy;

(2)     To confirm the Council’s practices and procedures especially those relating to potentially vulnerable customers.