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
Dear Natalie Bloomer,
Thank you for your FOI request.
Please note the Ref No/Target Date - your request will now be allocated.
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Dear Natalie Bloomer,
Thank you for your request dated 11^th October 23 for information under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
You have requested the information set out in your email below. The
Council’s response is:
Please see below answers to individual questions on your original request
Please note that where the ratepayer is an individual (sole trader or
partnership) business rates account information will not be disclosed as
it is considered to be personal information and therefore protected by the
Data Protection Act 2018. Personal information is exempt from disclosure
under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, unless one of
the conditions set out in Article 6 of the General Data Protection
Regulation is met. We are satisfied that none of these conditions are met
in this case, and we are unable to release this information.
Further information explaining the Council’s process for responding to
information requests is available on our website at
[1]www.dacorum.gov.uk/foi.
If you have any further queries or information needs or if you are unhappy
about the way your request has been handled, please contact the Council’s
information service at: [2][Dacorum Borough Council request email], quoting our FOI reference
shown in the subject line of this email.
In accordance with Section 50 of the FOIA, you may apply to the
Information Commissioner for a decision whether, in any specified respect,
your request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the
requirements of Part 1 of the FOIA. The Commissioner would make a decision
on any application unless certain circumstances apply, one of which is
that the relevant public authority’s complaints procedure has not been
exhausted. The Information Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:-
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Website, with online form: [3]www.ico.gov.uk and email for online
complaint: [4][email address]
If you need further assistance please contact the information service as
indicated above.
Yours sincerely
Jake Seabourne
Systems Development and Finance Lead Officer
Dacorum Borough Council
T: 01442 228260 (ext. 2260)
M: 07966 529958
E: [5][email address]
A: The Forum | Marlowes | Hemel Hempstead | HP1 1DN
Visit our website for more news and events – [6]www.dacorum.gov.uk
[7]cid:image001.jpg@01DA0B2B.30A68690
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