Council write off debts owed
Cash-strapped South Lanarkshire Council agreed to write off more than £1 million in unpaid debts.
Councillors on a finance committee rubber-stamped the move last week.
The debts relate to housing rent, sundry debt and levies related to the Hamilton business improvement district.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to write off accounts where the debtor is deceased, sequestered, in liquidation or if the debt is prescribed.
Sundry debt accounts for £710,653.76 of the total.
Housing charges amounts to £354,634.02. Of this £317,210.22 relates to former council tenant rent arrears, £12,770.31 to factoring arrears and £24,653.49 in overpaid housing benefits.
However, the council is ahead of target in collecting council tax and non-domestic rates arrears during the current financial year.