1. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental debt collection policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
No corporate debt recovery policy / departmental policy. This is currently being drafted. The authority acts within legislative guidelines when recovering debts

2. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a corporate or departmental write-off policy? If yes please specify which and provide copies of the policy or a link to the source where it can be accessed.
The write off policy is currently being drafted. Write off limits are contained in the Council's constitution and can be found here: https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s66274/Section%2012%20Financial%20Procurement%20and%20Contract%20Regulations.pdf

3. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes enforcement agents to collect statutory debts? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? Additionally, please provide a list of the types of debts for which enforcement agents are used.
We use enforcement agents to recover Council Tax and Business Rates debts. No added value is contained within the SLA

4. Can you please confirm whether your organization utilizes debt collection agents (DCA) to collect debts owed to the organization? ? If yes, could you also confirm if any added value services are extracted due to this contract, such as fintech utilization or financial assistance? please provide a list of the types of debts for which Debt collection agents are used.
We use debt collection companies to recovery Sundry Debt and some Adult Social Care debts. No added value is contained within the SLA

5. Can you please confirm whether your organization has a local authority-owned enforcement agent facility for undertaking "taking control of goods fees regulations" debt collections? If yes, please provide a list of debts for which this the debts the team collects, and kindly provide a copy of the notice of enforcement that is used.
We do not have an internal enforcement agent team.

6. Please confirm the total amount of debt written off by your local authority for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Please break down the figures by debt area, such as Council Tax, Parking, and Sundry Debt etc.
Council Tax uncollectable liability debt (not costs) write offs
2021/22: £508,019.79
2022/23: £375,418.78
• Business Rates uncollectable liability debt (not costs) write offs
2021/22: £84,460.44
2022/23: £93,753.18
• Housing Benefit Overpayment write offs:
2021/22: £36,919.28
2022/23: £16,474.07
• Accounts Receivable
2021/22: £177,099.15
2022/23: £28,724.20