The Leader of the Council introduced a report by the Strategic Director of Transformation and Resources which recommended the writing off of £318,444.50 in Adult Social Services (DASS) client contributions, £66,460.57 in miscellaneous DASS debt (total £384,904.07) and £161,029.94 in outstanding overpayments of Housing Benefit. Breakdowns of the cases in each of these categories were appended to the report.

This was part of the process of cleansing the long standing DASS debt identified in the Independent Report considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 23 May, 2013 (minute 248 refers).

Both DASS and HB debts written off as irrecoverable were charged against the Council provision for bad debts which was reviewed annually in accordance with the requirements of accounting practice. As detailed in the revenue out-turn report the provision at 31 March, 2013 was £10.9 million which compared to the £7.6 million at 31 March, 2012. Prior to submission to Members all write offs were agreed by the S151 Officer for the authority. Those debts recommended for write-off had been agreed by the Head of Legal and Member Services.

The Strategic Director of Transformation and Resources assured the Cabinet that debts were robustly pursued and he was confident of the mechanisms now in place to recover all possible debts.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the report be noted;

(2)  the debts be written off as detailed in the report.