Council tax

The request was successful.

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

FOI, Shropshire Council

Dear Ms Wilde

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 15/03/2019.  We are
currently processing your request in accordance with the relevant
legislation.

 

Your request is for information relating to unpaid council tax.

 

(Please note this may be a summary of your request and full details, as
outlined in the request, will be sent to the team providing the response).

 

If you feel the information is inaccurate or requires amendment, please
notify us as soon as possible using the contact details provided below. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Governance Team

Shropshire Council

Shirehall

Abbey Foregate

SHREWSBURY

SY2 6ND

 

Tel:                  01743 252179 / 252774 / 252747

Email:             [Shropshire Council request email]

Web:               [1]www.shropshire.gov.uk/access-to-information

 

 

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James Walton, Shropshire Council

Dear Ms Wilde

 

Further to your FOI request, please find response below:-

 

We don't hold any data that can be reported on by municipal year.  We can
provide responses by financial year below.

 

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

 

As at 1 April 2018 outstanding arrears for the requested financial years
were as set out below.

 

2012-13 529,640.98

2013-14 711,600.42

2014-15 846,819.78

2015-16 977,629.28

2016-17 1,243,822.88

2017-18 1,754,643.03

2018-19 4,254,796.73

 

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);

 

2012-13 5,859.65

2013-14 8,898.22

2014-15 10,563.94

2015-16 16,537.92

2016-17 33,235.85

2017-18 61,058.80

2018-19 183,859.31

 

1c) The number of households in receipt of Universal Credit which are
currently in arrears on their Council Tax;

 

684

 

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.

 

Staffing levels vary over a period of time due to a number of factors and
there is no direct correlation between reduced Government funding and
staff levels that can be provided in response to this part.

 

James Walton

Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer)

 

Finance, Governance and Assurance

Shropshire Council

Shirehall

Abbey Foregate

Shrewsbury

SY2 6ND

 

Tel:          01743 25 8915

Mobile:   07458 11 7556

Email:      [1][email address]

Web        [2]www.shropshire.gov.uk

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

Chief Financial Officer (Section 151 Officer): Shropshire Council

Pension Scheme Administrator: Shropshire County Pension Fund

Treasurer: Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority

Treasurer: West Mercia Energy

Treasurer: Marches LEP

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

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