The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report which detailed a number of historical debts raised against the NHS. These debts, some of which dated back to 2000/01, related to the cost of care provided to a number of people with specialised or complex needs, some of whom lived outside Wirral. Having sought counsel's advice and arbitration from the Strategic Health Authority these debts were considered to be irrecoverable and the Director sought Cabinet’s approval for the writing off of these debts.

As the invoices were raised in previous financial years and income was included in the accounts when the invoice was raised, the income would have been included within the Adult Social Services accounts for those particular years. By now agreeing not to pursue recovery of the invoices the loss of income would be charged to the Adult Social Services accounts for the 2008/09 financial year.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Inclusion commented that although the debts had been pursued vigorously it was now time to draw a line under them. They had accrued at a time when robust procedures were not in place but the department had now transformed itself in the way it dealt with these issues.

Resolved – That the cancellation of the invoices to the value of £1.812m, for the reasons stated within the report, to be charged against the Adult Social Services Department in the financial year 2008/09, be approved.