Issue - meetings

(a)      Note the numbers and values of Council Tax, Penalty Charge Notices, Bus Lane Enforcement Charge Notices, Service Income, Council House Rent and Housing Benefit Overpayments debts written off as unrecoverable during 2024/25 in terms of the Council’s Financial Regulations and the reasons for such debts being written off; and

(b)      to request that the Chief Officer - Finance circulate details to members relating to the value of outstanding debt for rent and council tax as per the 2024/25 Annual Accounts.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director for Corporate Service which advised on the numbers and values of Council Tax, Penalty Charge Notices, Bus Lane Enforcement Charge Notices, Service Income and Council House Rent debts written off as unrecoverable during 2024/25 as required in terms of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the numbers and values of Council Tax, Penalty Charge Notices, Bus Lane Enforcement Charge Notices, Service Income, Council House Rent and Housing Benefit Overpayments debts written off as unrecoverable during 2024/25 in terms of the Council’s Financial Regulations and the reasons for such debts being written off.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

that the Committee approve the recommendation contained within the report.

Councillor Malik, moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Watson:-

that the Committee –

(1)    note the numbers and values of Council Tax, Penalty Charge Notices, Bus Lane Enforcement Charge Notices, Service Income, Council House Rent and Housing Benefit Overpayments debts written off as unrecoverable during 2024/25 in terms of the Council’s Financial Regulations and the reasons for such debts being written off;

(2)    agree the General Account has lost income from write offs of £3,424,668.46 whilst the total write offs for the HRA account is £3,743,135.08;  and

(3)    note the HRA has seen a loss of income through voids at £8,441,869 and through write offs at £3,743,135 totalling £12,185,004 noting rents have had to be increased over the last two years by 4.7% 24/25 and 7.5% 25/26 because the Housing Convener remains unable to control her brief, meaning ordinary hard-working council tenants are being penalised for SNP failures.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Allard, Cooke, Greig and Radley; for the amendment (4) Councillors Brooks, Malik, Nicoll and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to adopt the motion; and

(ii)      to request that the Chief Officer - Finance circulate details to members relating to the value of outstanding debt for rent and council tax as per the 2024/25 Annual Accounts.