Cash-strapped Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) was forced to write off millions of pounds in historic debt now deemed uncollectable.

A total of £3,203,428 in uncollected debt was written off in the last financial year, to the end of March 2026.

At the cabinet portfolio holder's decision session where the figures came under the spotlight officer Joanne Robinson, the authority's head of income and awards, said: "We do take a proactive approach to the monies owed and we take every available route to us.

"There are instances where we have exhausted all opportunities to collect the money and our only option is to consider a write off – again that is only when we have exhausted all opportunities."

Conservative-run council is not alone in having trouble recovering debt and there can be various reasons authorities fail to collect the much-needed cash.

The uncollected debts – including court costs – was:

• £1,138,473 in business rates
• £979,737 in sundry income
• £749,376 in rents and charges
• £256,546 in council tax
• £79,296 in housing benefit overpayments

A council report said: "For the debts written off whilst the write off has been authorised and actioned in 2025/26 the actual amount written off could relate to any financial year and does not relate solely to debts raised in 2025/26.

"We issue a reminder and final demand for outstanding council tax, business rates, overpaid housing benefit and sundry income debts before we take court action."

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As the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported last month, thousands of pounds have already had to be written off this financial year in uncollected historic debt.

At that meeting SMBC officer Louise Lynch said: "Over the last five or six years collection has changed.

"We have got the challenges with cost of living, pressure there.

"Previously we would look to collect 98 per cent within the year, now we have to be more realistic. People might just need longer to pay."

And the portfolio holder Cllr Dave Pinwell added: "I had a look at previous years to compare.

"Figures are a bit up, a bit down in terms of movement over three years.

"I think you would regard yourself as on track."