Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

The report sets out a proposal to write off the debt in respect of Company A , amounting to £361,107.20 for office premises in Stockport. The debt in question is in respect of Business Rates for office premises in Hazel Grove.  The assessment on which the account was based was originally part of a larger property.

(Note: the report contains information ‘not for publication’ within its appendices that have been circulated to executive councillors only)

The Executive is asked to approve the writing off as irrecoverable of Business Rates debt of £367,107.20.  All available methods have been considered and it is clear that the limited company that owes the debt has no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

Officer contact: Alison Blount, 0161 474 5107, alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal to write off business rate debt of £361,107.20 owed by a limited company for office premises in Stockport, the Council having exhausted options for recovering the debt.

(Note: the report contains information ‘not for publication’ within its appendices that have been circulated to executive councillors only)

The Executive Councillor stressed the exceptional nature of this issue, but nevertheless had asked that current procedures were reviewed to ensure they were robust.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to writing off as irrecoverable of Business Rates debt of £367,107.20 owed by ‘Company A’ identified in the exempt Appendix to the report, as all available methods had been considered and the Council was satisfied that the limited company that owed the debt had no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

(2) That the Borough Treasurer be requested to write to the relevant authorities in Gibraltar to apprise them of the circumstances of this case given that parties involved were registered within their administrative authority.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer.

To consider a proposal to write off the debt in respect of Company A , amounting to £361,107.20 for office premises in Stockport. The debt in question is in respect of Business Rates for office premises in Hazel Grove.  The assessment on which the account was based was originally part of a larger property.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to note that it is proposed that the Business Rates debt of £367,107.20 is written off as irrecoverable.  All available methods have been considered and it is clear that the limited company that owes the debt has no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

Officer contact Alison Blount   on Tel: 0161 474 5107 or by email on alison.blount@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to consider a proposal to write off the debt in respect of Company A, amounting to £361,107.20 for office premises in Stockport. The debt in question is in respect of Business Rates for office premises in Hazel Grove.  The assessment on which the account was based was originally part of a larger property.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alexander Ganotis) and the Executive Councillor for Reform & Governance (Councillor David Sedgwick) attended the meeting to answer members’ questions.

RESOLVED – (1) That this Scrutiny Committee support the Business Rates debt of £367,107.20 being written off as irrecoverable and note that all available methods had been considered and it is clear that the limited company that owes the debt has no assets that could be liquidated to obtain payment.

(2) That the changes in working practices to ensure that similar situations are dealt with much quicker was noted.