Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: August 12, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council - Record of Decision   I, Councillor Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Finance, Support Services & Regeneration, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do hereby approve:   The debt write-off of former tenant’s arrears to the value of £48,466.21   The Reasons are: The arrears, after exhaustive attempts to collect, are found to be irrecoverable for a variety of reasons, as detailed in the report.   Options considered and rejected were: No other options are available due to the nature (age and value) of these accounts.   Assessment of Risk: Low   The source of funding is: There is a debt provision within the Housing Revenue Account in 25/26 to write off the proposed amount of £48,466.21in full.   Legal Advice obtained: Supplied by Tony Hatton – Solicitor Group Leader, Commercial 30/05/25 Under the Council’s constitution, Chief Officers must ensure that the Council is not put at risk from any bad debts (8.3.8), obtain the approval of the Lead Member for Finance and Customer Services when writing off debts (7.2.21), and to take effective action to pursue non-payment within defined timescales and relevant legislation (7.2.23).   It is the responsibility of the Chief Finance officer to: 7.2.5 To agree the submission of reports for the write-off of bad debts to the Lead Member for Finance and Customer Services for approval, as appropriate in line with the scheme of delegation of the Council. 7.2.6 To keep a record of all sums written off and to adhere to the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (as amended).   The report suggests that there is no further recovery action which can be taken by the Council with regards to the arrears as listed in the report other than observing the “write off “collectable”” process described in section 2 of the report   Financial Advice obtained: Supplied by Grace Rogerson – Capital Finance Manager – 27/05/25 This report sets out the current position on former tenants’ arrears and makes a recommendation to Lead Member to write off a value of £48,466.21 in relation to 47 cases. Of those 47 cases, 16 are deemed collectable with a value of £35,599.22, whereby former tenants may reapply with Together Housing Association and the debt must be repaid in full prior to approval for future housing. Future reporting on the success of rents collected that were written off but deemed collectable is advisable.   Procurement Advice obtained: N/A   HR Advice obtained: N/A   Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: All information is contained within the report and supporting appendices   Contact Officer:       Jane Barlow – Service Manager Contracts                            Email: jane.barlow@salford.gov.uk   This decision is subject to consideration for briefing purposes by the Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty. The Lead Member is supportive of the decision.   The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Overview & Scrutiny Board.       Signed: Councillor Jack Youd                         Dated: 12th August 2025 Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Finance, Support Services & Regeneration     This decision was published on 14th August 2025.   This decision will come into force at 4.00 p.m. on 21st August 2025, unless it is called-in in accordance with the decision-making process rules.