Council tax
To whom it may concern,
Please can I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
1a) In £, the total amount of Council Tax which was unpaid, by municipal year from 2012/13 and including any arrears in 2018/19 to date);
1b) The total amount of Council Tax, in £, which was owed but never paid by Universal Credit claimants since 2012/13 (broken down by municipal year and including any arrears in 2018/19 to date);
1c) The number of households in receipt of Universal Credit which are currently in arrears on their Council Tax;
2) Since the national introduction of Universal Credit from 2013 onwards, has your authority had to reduce the number of housing officers dealing with benefits queries because of a reduction in government funding? If so, please provide figures for government funding (in £) and staffing numbers (in Full Time Equivalents) before and after these reductions.
If my request cannot be met within cost limits, please can you provide me with advice on how I may refine my request,
Yours faithfully,
Claire Wilde
Dear Claire,
Thank you for your e-mail requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your request is being considered and you will receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the information will not be released. You will be Informed if this is the case, including your rights of appeal.
If the information you request contains reference to a third party then they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.
There may be a fee payable for 'reasonable disbursement' costs such as postage and photocopying. This will be considered and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment. If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you require alternative formats, e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let me know.
If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me on 01254 388111 or [Hyndburn Borough Council request email] .
Yours sincerely,
FOI Co-ordinator
Hyndburn Borough Council
Dear Claire,
Your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been considered and a response is attached.
(Please accept our apologies, the responses for 1 b and 1c have been transposed)
If you have any queries or concerns or if you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request then please contact me at
Legal and Democratic Services,
Hyndburn Borough Council,
Scaitcliffe House,
Ormerod Street,
Accrington,
Lancashire
BB5 0PF or: [Hyndburn Borough Council request email]
If you are still dissatisfied then you can also complain to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF Telephone: 01625 545 700 www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely,
FOI Co-ordinator
Hyndburn Borough Council
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