Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of personal interest.

RESOLVED that the decision record of the meeting of the meeting held on the 7^th March, 2019 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the decision record of the meeting of the meeting held on the 25^th March, 2019 be signed as a correct record.

FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AND FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER MAY CONSIDER THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS IT CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007

RESOLVED pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007 that the following items were not for publication as the reports contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption referred to above outweighed the public interest test in disclosing the contents of the report as disclosure would result in the unwarranted and disproportionate disclosure of sensitive information about the persons into the public domain.

The Executive Board Member considered a report prepared in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules, providing the current position on former tenant debt and seeking the write-off of former tenant debts in excess of £1,500.

The Executive Board Member noted that the cases outlined in the report related to tenants who were either suffering from ill-health or deceased. He considered the individual reports for each of the former tenants detailing the reasons why write-off was being sought which included personal circumstances.

RESOLVED that the former tenant debt arrears detailed within the report be written-off as irrecoverable.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report contained information regarding individuals that were liable to pay council tax and maintaining the exemption under paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained in this report as disclosure would unjustifiably reveal confidential personal information about other individuals.

The Executive Board Member considered a report detailing applications received for discretionary reduction of Council Tax

It was noted that regulations had been introduced with effect from April 2004 giving local authorities discretionary powers to grant locally determined Council Tax discounts or reductions, over and above existing statutory reductions.

RESOLVED:

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report contained information about individuals’ indebtedness and/or personal information and the public interest in maintaining the exemption under paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained in the report as disclosure would unjustifiably reveal confidential personal information about other individuals.

The Executive Board Member considered a report detailing housing benefit over-payment accounts which had been identified as being irrecoverable.  Recovery procedures, where appropriate, had been exhausted and there was no likelihood of payment being secured.  It was therefore considered appropriate to write-off those accounts.

RESOLVED that the accounts detailed within the report be written-off as irrecoverable.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact the report contained information about the individual ratepayer’s recent financial history and/or personal information and maintaining the exemption under paragragh 14 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained in this report as disclosure would unjustifiably reveal confidential information about the business in question putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

The Executive Board member considered an application for Hardship Relief under the provisions of Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 as amended.

RESOLVED that application reference 80020537 be awarded hardship relief in respect of 50% of the liability for the 2018/19 financial year for the period 1^st April 2018 to the 31^st March 2019.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report included data relating to non-domestic rate payers and that maintaining the exemption under paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information contained in the report as disclosure would unjustifiably reveal confidential information about the businesses in question putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

The Executive Board Member considered applications for Discretionary Reduction or Remission of Business Rates under the provisions of Section 47 of Local Government (Finance) Act 1988 as amended.

RESOLVED