Council tax enforcement
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my query as specifically as possible.
1. In relation to your collection of council tax for the 2022/2023 council tax period please provide the total number of referrals/debts passed to enforcement agents.
2. Please confirm the name of the enforcement company used by the council for the recovery of council tax debt.
3. Please confirm if accounts which are part of the council tax reduction/support scheme are passed to enforcement companies and if so how many such cases were passed on for the 2022/23 council tax period.
4. Please confirm if accounts of people on health/disability related benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment are passed to enforcement companies and if so how many such cases were passed on for the 2022/23 council tax period.
5. Please confirm if an assessment of vulnerability is done prior to a debt being passed to an enforcement company and if so provide a brief description of what the assessment involves. Please also confirm how many cases of people assessed as being vulnerable or potentially vulnerable were passed on to an enforcement company for the 2022/23 council tax period.
6. Please confirm what protocols are in place between the local authority and enforcement companies regarding the approach that should be taken when someone is assessed as being vulnerable as per the assessment referred to in Q5. Please also confirm the kinds of cases which should be raised with, or referred back to, local authorities for further consideration when encountered.
7. Please confirm A) how many requests the council received to bring a council tax debt back from an enforcement agent due to vulnerability reasons during the 2022/23 period and B) How many times the council agreed to bring an account back due to vulnerability reasons during the 2022/23 period.
If my request is denied in whole or in part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the Act. I will also expect you to release all non-exempt material. I reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to charge excessive fees.
I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as outlined by the statute.
If you are unable to answer any of the questions, then please move on to the next possible question.
Yours faithfully,
Natalie Bloomer
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2004. I acknowledge receipt and confirm that we will respond within 20
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Yours sincerely
FOI Team
T: 01892 554077
E: [2][Tunbridge Wells Borough Council request email]
01892 554077
Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1RS
[3]www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk
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Dear Natalie Bloomer,
Re: FOI F12331
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.
Please find below the response to your recent request. The information has
been provided by our Revenues and Benefits Team.
Your request and our response:
1. In relation to your collection of council tax for the 2022/2023 council
tax period please provide the total number of referrals/debts passed to
enforcement agents
Stanford and Green 41
Mid Kent 1,135
Rundles 26
2. Please confirm the name of the enforcement company used by the council
for the recovery of council tax debt. Stanford and Green, Midkent, Rundles
3. Please confirm if accounts which are part of the council tax
reduction/support scheme are passed to enforcement companies and if so how
many such cases were passed on for the 2022/23 council tax period.Yes,
none
4. Please confirm if accounts of people on health/disability related
benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Employment Support Allowance
and Personal Independence Payment are passed to enforcement companies and
if so how many such cases were passed on for the 2022/23 council tax
period. Yes, none
5. Please confirm if an assessment of vulnerability is done prior to a
debt being passed to an enforcement company and if so provide a brief
description of what the assessment involves. Please also confirm how many
cases of people assessed as being vulnerable or potentially vulnerable
were passed on to an enforcement company for the 2022/23 council tax
period. Yes. None known beforehand.
6. Please confirm what protocols are in place between the local authority
and enforcement companies regarding the approach that should be taken when
someone is assessed as being vulnerable as per the assessment referred to
in Q5. Please also confirm the kinds of cases which should be raised with,
or referred back to, local authorities for further consideration when
encountered. If we are advised that they are vulnerable we follow the
national standards [1]Taking Control of Goods: National Standards
(publishing.service.gov.uk), Any cases where the debtor or an immediate
family member is terminally ill, debtor is incoherent
7. Please confirm A) how many requests the council received to bring a
council tax debt back from an enforcement agent due to vulnerability
reasons during the 2022/23 period and B) How many times the council agreed
to bring an account back due to vulnerability reasons during the 2022/23
period.”
Information not held
If you are dissatisfied with the information provided or the way in which
we have dealt with your request, you can request a review. Please write
to Mid-Kent Legal Services, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1
1RS or via e-mail to [2][email address] requesting a review
of the decision.
We will aim to deal with your request within 20 working days. If you
remain dissatisfied following our review, you can then appeal to the
Information Commissioner.
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
T: 01892 554077
E: [3][Tunbridge Wells Borough Council request email]
Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1RS
[4]www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk
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