Aged debt in a cost-of-living crisis: can councils be compassionate collectors?

In this episode of The Local Authority podcast, LGC’s head of content Kirsty Weakley is joined by Alan Clark (Barnet LBC), Kevin Fox (Capita) and Helen Barnard (Trussell Trust) to explore how councils can approach aged debt collection in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. With billions owed in council tax and business rates, collection is critical to funding public services, while the reality that many residents in arrears are already in severe financial hardship. Together the panel discuss the ways in which collection can be a more compassionate exercise, utilising technology, data, and a person-centred approach to improve efficiency and fairness. This episode is sponsored by Capita: "Capita helps councils recover aged debt in a way that’s fair, ethical, and effective—so you can protect vulnerable residents while funding vital public services. Discover how our digital and AI-driven solutions make debt recovery smarter and more compassionate. Learn more at content.capita.com/aged-debt"

You can listen to Aged debt in a cost-of-living crisis: can councils be compassionate collectors? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Aged debt in a cost-of-living crisis: can councils be compassionate collectors? is an episode from The Local Authority Podcast by LGC.

This episode is 38:14 long.

This episode was published on Dec 3, 2025.

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