Decision details

Purpose of report is to ask Members to approve the writing off of former tenants debts of over £2000 that have been identified over the last six months.

Members are asked to write off currently uncollectable debts over £2000

Consideration was given to a report, which sought agreement to write off a number of former tenants arrears, as detailed in Annex A of the report.

Officers confirmed that the district auditor required existing balances to be examined and uncollectible debts to be written off each year. It was also reported that these arrears also had a significant affect on the additional contribution made each year within the Housing Revenue Account towards bad debts.

Option A: Maintain these Former Tenants Arrears on accounts. This would lead to an increase in the bad debt provision and would go against good practice as commented on in the Housing Inspectors report of October 2002.

Option B: Write the debts off on the understanding that if necessary they can be reinstated at a later date.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member agree Option 2 writing off former tenants arrears of £30,209.95 as detailed in Annex A of the report.¹

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  This is for financial reasons, in line with the recommendations of the audit report detailed in paragraph 2.