Issue - meetings

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

1.         To adopt the new Fair Collection Charter.

2.         To delegate authority to the Executive Member (Customer and Streetscene Services) to approve cost-neutral changes to the policy. 

The Executive Member (Customer and Streetscene Services), Councillor Adrian Lowe, presented the report of the 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 also places additional demand on public services.

The Executive Member (Customer and Streetscene Services), Councillor Adrian Lowe, proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the (unanimous) Decision

1.         To adopt the new Fair Collection Charter.

2.         To delegate authority to the Executive Member (Customer and Streetscene Services) to approve cost-neutral changes to the policy.