Screening Reports

Equality Screening Debt Management Policy

Contents:

Part 1. Policy scoping

The first stage of the screening process involves scoping the policy under consideration.

The purpose of policy scoping is to help prepare the background and context and set out the aims and objectives for the policy, being screened. 

At this stage, scoping the policy will help identify potential constraints as well as opportunities and will help the policy maker work through the screening process on a step by step basis.

Public authorities should remember that the Section 75 statutory duties apply to internal policies (relating to people who work for the authority), as well as external policies (relating to those who are, or could be, served by the authority).

Part 1: Information about the policy

Information about the policy

Name of policy

Debt Management

Is this and existing, revised or new policy?

Revised policy

What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims/outcomes)

The purpose of this policy is to set out the Council’s approach for effective management and recovery of debt, ensuring that all income owed is pursued in a timely, consistent, and fair manner.

It sets out the framework within which debt will be monitored and recovered, supporting the Council’s responsibility to safeguard public funds and maintain financial stability.

Are there any section 75 categories which might be expected to benefit for the intended policy?

If so, explain how.

The Bad Debt Policy is primarily an administrative document designed to ensure consistent, fair, and transparent management of debt owed to the Council.

The policy applies to all service users and organisations in a neutral manner, with no intention to target or exclude any Section 75 group.

Policy Lead Officer

(who initiated or wrote the policy)
Exchequer lead
Who owns/implements the policy? Assistant Director - Finance
Implementation factors

Are there any factors which could contribute to or detract from the intended

Aim or outcome of the policy or the decision? 

NO

Main stakeholders affected

Who are the internal and external stakeholders (actual or potential) that the policy will impact upon? (please list below)

Staff

Service users

Other public sector organisations

Voluntary, community or trade unions.

Other policies with a bearing on this policy
  • MEAs Equality Scheme
  • Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
  • CIPFA Prudential Code

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