Calderdale Council is looking at how it can bring in money it has been owed for a long time – and AI could be the answer.

Calderdale audit councillors who were reviewing a number of matters relating to council tax were told the council has “significant” historic debt which officers said they are “keen to recover”.

Councillors heard council tax arrears have risen by 20.9 per cent, or £3.3m since the last audit in 2019.

And cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Danielle Durrans (Lab, Ovenden) recently told councillors: “We are undertaking an aged debt review, to look at innovative ways of recovering outstanding arrears that we have for council tax, as well as other debts, such as business rates, sundry income and parking.”

Audit councillors heard, regarding council tax, this was being done by working with an external software supplier – and looking at the potential of using AI to help recover cash.

Using “best practice” language and collection “conversations” in the process, this would encourage compliance, officers said.

It will ensure the council is targeting those accounts where it is considered there is the highest likelihood of ability to pay, councillors were told.

Members should be informed of the current arrears position and likely increase that will occur if additional resources are not committed to this area.

A review of all historic accounts in recovery should be undertaken and, where appropriate further recovery action should be taken, or the account should be submitted for write off approval, said officers.

Dealing with the issues may need additional resources for it to be tackled, they reported.