Emma Varnam

Exchequer Recovery Report

From: Executive Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025 1.00 pm - April 23, 2025

The report provided information relating to the procurement and award of a contract to provide non-enforcement debt collection assistance for outstanding Council Tax, Business Rates, overpaid Housing Benefit and Sundry Debts. The activity will focus on ethical and supportive recovery, by providing income maximisation advice as standard for residents and debt segmentation using propensity to pay data, ensuring recovery activity is proportionate and appropriate to each individual case. 

Recommendations Approved

Urgent Items

From: Executive Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025 1.00 pm - April 23, 2025

Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Hattersley Annual Update April 2024 to March 2025

From: Executive Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025 1.00 pm - April 23, 2025

The report provided an update on the Hattersley Regeneration Programme for the period 2024/2025

Recommendations Approved

Strategic Homelessness Policy Review

From: Executive Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025 1.00 pm - April 23, 2025

Homelessness legislation in England aims to prevent and relieve homelessness for people who are eligible for assistance.  The legislation requires local authorities to act at earlier stages, and to provide services to all eligible applicants.   The recommendations included the urgent need to refresh and then consult on a suite of Policy documents, strategies and action plans before their formal adoption by the Council.  These documents would provide the cornerstone of the council’s improvement drive in this critical area of housing and social policy.   To support this work, in December the Government confirmed a ring-fenced grant of £2.277m, of which £1.971m will come directly to the Council, that would be allocated and utilised to resource the new homelessness prevention initiatives that would need to be delivered to respond to the Governments stated ambition to reduce all forms of homelessness.   It should also be noted that work on the delivery of a high quality and effective advice service had been taking place over the last nine months to ensure the service met the needs of the communities it services and seeks opportunities for improvement.

Recommendations Approved

Priority Account Service Contract Agreement

From: Executive Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025 1.00 pm - April 23, 2025

This report outlined a proposed renewal of the contract with Oxygen Finance Ltd for 4 years until 2029, with the option to extend a further 2 years.  Continuing with PAS and the associated initiatives does offer a significant opportunity to continue to deliver and potentially increase the financial benefits for the organisation whilst offering suppliers the ability to receive payment early in return for the Council taking a small benefit. 

Recommendations Approved