Northam Council has voted against writing off a $569.25 debt after the people in question have been unreachable for over a year.
The personally originally in question is Debtor M128, who was a resident at Killara between May and June 2016.
The outstanding debt relate to fees accrued between those dates totalling $569.25.
Executive Manager Corporate Services Colin Young said Debtor M128’s son originally had Enduring Power of Attorney for his mother during the period the debt accrued between May and June 2016.
Power of Attorney was then transferred to debtor M128’s other son.
Debtor M128 passed away in 2017.
Mr Young said numerous attempts had been made over the years to retrieve the debt.
The Local Government Act 1995 Section 6.12(1)(c) allows a Council to write off any amount of money owed to the Council if there is an absolute majority.
Mr Young said council is under no obligation to write off any of the debt.
He said legal action must be taken however Shire Management is of the opinion that the risk associated with the Shire accruing additional expense without retrieving the outstanding debt is high.
As part of the normal council debt collection procedures the debtor had been attempted to be contacted by phone, received a letter of final notice and been sent letter advising legal action will be taken if their account remains unpaid.
A recommendation was given that council write off the debt owed due to the length of time the money has been outstanding.
Council voted against the write off of debt two votes to seven.
Councilor Steven Pollard argued that if the debt was written off it would not set a good precedent for future cases.
He said he would feel comfortable voting in favour of writing off the debt if the family came back to council and proved that the estate was financially unable to pay the debt.
Shire of Northam Chief Executive Officer Jason Whiteaker said the Shire needed formal documented conversation with the family involved before a decision could be made.
