Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 15, 2024

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council - Record of Decision   I, Councillor 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 write-off of irrecoverable debts for Business Rates to the value of £1,038,833.59. ·       Note the write on value of £14,311.86.   The Reasons are: The liabilities mentioned in the report for write-off are irrecoverable.   Options considered and rejected were: To leave outstanding amounts on the accounts for a further period.   Assessment of Risk: The write-off of irrecoverable amounts is an essential part of account administration.The total write-off value, as a percentage of the Net Collectible Debt for financial year 2024/2025 equates to 0.89%.   The source of funding is: The bad debt provision has been confirmed.   Legal Advice obtained: The Council must follow the legal framework for the collection and recovery of business rates. In some cases it will be impossible to recover unpaid rates for legal reasons such as insolvency, or where it is considered uneconomical to pursue a debt.   Financial Advice obtained: There are sufficient provisions available to cover the cost of the proposed write offs   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: Detailed list of accounts to be written-off (not available to the public). Case files have been prepared for high value debts where current recovery methods have been unsuccessful and where appropriate evidence of working with legal specialist for complex business rates recovery service (not available to the public). Some of the relevant documents contain exempt or confidential information and are not available for public inspection. Other documents which are in the public domain are the relevant write-off strategies.   Contact Officer: Jane Betts, Service Manager –Business Rates Tel. 0161 793 2710          Email: jane.betts@salford.gov.uk   This decision is not subject to consideration by another LeadMember.   The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Overview & Scrutiny Board.     Signed: Councillor Youd                                              Date: 15th November 2024 Deputy City Mayor & Lead Member for Finance, Support Services & Regeneration     This decision was published on 19th November 2024.   This decision will come into effect at 4.00 pm on 26th November  2024, unless it is called-in in accordance with the decision-making process rules.