Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Customer and Digital. 

1.         To adopts the new Fair Collection Charter.

2.         Delegate authority to the Executive Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) to approve cost-neutral changes to the policy.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building), Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, presented the report of the Director of Customer and Digital which proposed that a Fair Collection Charter be adopted.  The report also highlighted the measures already adopted to help financially vulnerable customers.

Adopting the measures outlined would achieve the council’s objective of taking a more ethical approach to collection including a more supportive recovery process and best practice affordability and means testing.  They would also lead to improved working relationships with debt advice partners and increased referral and intervention. 

Debt could be a determinant of wider issues and adoption of these measures would help to ensure a joined-up approach to managing residents and local businesses experiencing issues.  Where residents have no means to pay there would be no benefit in pursuing enforcement action, incurring additional costs and increasing their vulnerability impacting upon mental health, well-being and self-confidence. This could also place additional demand on public services.

It was proposed by the Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building), Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, and subsequently

Resolved (unanimously)

1.         To adopt the new Fair Collection Charter.

2.         To delegate authority to the Executive Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) to approve cost-neutral changes to the policy.