Cannock Chase Council writes off 'irrecoverable' business rates worth more than £55k

Two business rate debts deemed “irrecoverable” were agreed for write-off at Thursday’s cabinet meeting, which was attended by more than a hundred supporters of the arts who are objecting to the proposed closure of the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock and Hednesford’s Museum of Cannock Chase.

The authority is considering the move as it faces a £1.3m gap in its budget for 2025/26. Closing the museum and theatre would save more than £350,000 a year – and would help safeguard other key services to residents and businesses, the authority has said.

On Thursday (November 28) cabinet members received the latest report on collection rates for council tax and business rates in the district.

It said: “Council tax due for the 2024/2025-year amounts to £66.7m, of which some 54.6 per cent was collected by the end of September. This is similar to last year’s performance in the same period (54.7 per cent).

“Business rates due for the current year amounts to £38.6m, of which some 54.9 per cent was collected by the end of September, showing a marginal decrease on the previous year (55.1 per cent). Whilst our collection rates are traditionally good, regrettably not all of the monies owed to the council can be collected and this report contains a recommendation to write off bad debts which cannot be recovered.”

Council leader Tony Johnson said: “It’s quite upsetting when we get people who are not paying what’s due. While it’s a small percentage in real terms it’s quite galling this money can’t be recovered, particularly with the problems we have been talking about with the theatre and museum.

“If we can get the money back we do – it’s only if it becomes not worthwhile to pursue the debt we write it off. We pursue it until it becomes irrecoverable.”