by David Skentelbery
COUNCIL finance chiefs at Warrington had to write-off debts totalling £138,638 in the year up to February 2.
A report to the audit and corporate governance committee stressed that as the council's annual income included £82 million in council tax, £101 million in business rates and £50 million in miscellaneous income, collection performance was "extremely good."
But there were occasions when the council was unable to pursue an outstanding debt any further.
The debtor could have died, leaving no money in their estate, left the borough without trace or a debt could no longer be economically viable to pursue.
In such circumstances, all avenues of recovery had been exhausted and the debts in question were referred to the chief finance officer before being written off.
The figure of £138,638 does not include unpaid council tax or business rates. The largest part - £87,723 - was attributable to the Social Services department, although £20,276 related to school meals.
The committee has requested a more detailed report in future, to be presented on a six-monthly basis.
A report to the audit and corporate governance committee stressed that as the council's annual income included £82 million in council tax, £101 million in business rates and £50 million in miscellaneous income, collection performance was "extremely good."
But there were occasions when the council was unable to pursue an outstanding debt any further.
The debtor could have died, leaving no money in their estate, left the borough without trace or a debt could no longer be economically viable to pursue.
In such circumstances, all avenues of recovery had been exhausted and the debts in question were referred to the chief finance officer before being written off.
The figure of £138,638 does not include unpaid council tax or business rates. The largest part - £87,723 - was attributable to the Social Services department, although £20,276 related to school meals.
The committee has requested a more detailed report in future, to be presented on a six-monthly basis.
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3 Responses to "Council writes-off £138,000 debts" 
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said this on 23 Apr 2012 1:00:59 PM BST
Can someone explain 8 council lads hoovering Victoria park? At what cost and why??
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said this on 23 Apr 2012 3:25:23 PM BST
If the debt figure does not include unpaid Council Tax or Business Rates then what is the relevance of quoting this debt as a proportion of income INCLUDING these two? Smoke and mirrors again
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said this on 24 Apr 2012 8:26:34 AM BST
This is, of course, a large sum of money - OUR money! Quite right in that the figure should be shown as a percentage of income EXCLUDING Council Tax and Business Rates. Why is that WBC always tries to mislead the residents in its attempt to look good. This is just another example of the mismanagement of OUR money. They wouldn't be too anxious to write off these amounts if it was their own family budget!
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