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 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
References
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1. http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/access-to-i...
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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