Agenda item

FAIR COLLECTION POLICY AND PRESENTATION BY PENHAM EXCEL LTD

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - CUSTOMERS

To receive the Draft Fair Collection Policy for consideration. The Committee will be provided with a presentation by Penham Excel Ltd.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the presentation by Penham Excel Ltd be noted.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That the Draft Fair Collection Policy be adopted.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1) To better inform the Committee of the role of Collection Agents in North Hertfordshire; and

(2) To allow the Committee to comment on the Draft Fair Collection Policy before it is considered by Cabinet.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – Session 1 – 27 Minutes

The Service Director – Customers presented the report entitled Fair Collection Policy and presentation from Penham Excel Ltd.

Mr Alan Wood and Mr Philip Hammonds, Penham Excel, gave a verbal presentation, with the aid of a PowerPoint Presentation, to Members of the Committee in relation their work and role as a civil enforcement agency.

In response to a series of questions raised by Members, the Service Director – Customers and the Revenues Manager along with Mr Wood, Mr Hammonds and Ms Lecia Fraser, North Hertfordshire Citizens Advice, provided the following responses:

· It was felt that the Fair Collection Policy struck the right balance between protecting vulnerable customers as well as ensuring finances were collected;

· Consultation had been carried out with Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Trust;

· Budgeting work was carried out with clients to ensure they were able to keep to the repayment agreement;

· There was a note on all Benefits correspondences that reminded customers to inform the Council if their circumstances were to change;

· The collection of arrears had improved;

· Letters were sent out in advance to customers to inform them that Council Tax arrears would be collected via an Attachment of Earnings; and

· Some customers contact the Council once they have noticed an Attachment of Earnings.