Cash-strapped councils could save over £1 billion a year by modernising debt recovery systems

Councils could save themselves over £1 billion a year by switching to a new computerised debt recovery system, according to new research. A pilot scheme led by Northampton Borough Council analysed £2 million of collectable debt that could be quickly reviewed and actively progressed. If the same results were achieved across the country, cash-strapped local authorities could make progress on inactive debt and offset a large part of the cuts in Government grants. Northampton has worked with niche computer software company Xantura to devise the pioneering Matchmaker solution, which pulls