Published 05 February 2025
West Dunbartonshire Council has successfully collected over 97 per cent of business rates owed to the Council for 2023/24.
A report to Corporate Services Committee informed members of the high collection rate of non-domestic business rates and highlighted the commitment of the Council’s Debt Management team to collect 97.29 per cent of £92.1million owed for Non-Domestic Rates.
Members also agreed to write off £637,211 of non-domestic business rates dating back to 2019 after exhausting all avenues for collection. The majority of money being written off is due to businesses being dissolved and includes debt owed by one company of more than £364,470.
Councillor William Rooney, Convener of Corporate Services, said: “I would like to thank the Corporate Debt team for their outstanding efforts in collecting monies due to the Council. The Council rigorously pursues all outstanding debt through the Corporate Debt Team which takes appropriate action to recover money owed through various means available including using Debt Management Partners to help trace individuals and businesses. We also provide support to anyone struggling to pay, and a range of options to assist. Once all avenues have been exhausted, the debt is passed for sheriff officer involvement. Our Corporate Debt Team work tirelessly to ensure, where possible, all outstanding money due to the Council is pursued and I thank them for their commitment.”
Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Vice Convener of Corporate services, said: “Our staff work hard to ensure all public monies owed to the Council are collected where possible. Some of these debts go back more than five years and despite our best efforts, they are now deemed irrecoverable.
“It is the view of officers that these debts will not be recovered and should be written-off. If any new information comes to light, the Council will actively pursue this debt.”