Council tax public notice
Dear South Northamptonshire District Council,
please could you tell me the procedure in which you have to inform the people of the notice of council tax for the next financial year.
My information, is that authoritise have to give notice to the people through free media means.
I have had contact with Northants District Council on 3 different occasions my question has been the same in all counts.
" in what free public forums ie: notices/newspapers will the notice of council tax for the next financial year be available for the public to view?"
I have had 3 different answers.
All have been very different and very confusing.
My question is simple ,please confirm the procedure.
1. What is the procedure for informing the people, of the governments notice of council tax 2011 to 2012?
Yours faithfully,
linda: of the kehoe family
Dear Mrs Kehoe
Thank you for your request which has been forwarded to the Freedom of Information officer for his attention.
Kind regards
Lizzie Harris Customer Services Officer
South Northamptonshire Council, Springfields, Towcester, Northants NN12 6AE
Direct Tel: 01327-322322 Email: [email address]
Working to preserve, protect, enhance and encourage potential in South Northamptonshire
Visit us online at www.southnorthants.gov.uk
South Northamptonshire Council, Service Standards. We will respond to customers' letters, e-mails and faxes within 10 working days.
Freedom of Information Act - Requests for information held by the Council can be submitted by letter or e-mail, as long as the sender is identifiable. Information requested will normally be provided within 20 working days. Certain information is exempt from disclosure and in this situation the Council will explain why in writing.
Data Protection Act - Requests will normally be provided within 40 working days.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Please find below the response to your request under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act.
o The legislation (The Local Government Finance Act 1992, Section 38(2))
requires the following:
(2)A billing authority which has set amounts in accordance with section 30
above (originally or by way of substitute) shall, before the end of the
period of 21 days beginning with the day of doing so, publish a notice of
the amounts in at least one newspaper circulating in the authority's area.
o The Council Tax Public Notice will appear in the Chronicle and Echo on
Thursday 10 March. The same notice is on our website
[1]http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/1650.htm.
We have done our best to answer the question you raised as fully and
accurately as we can. If you have any concerns about the way we have done
this, we have a review process to look into such concerns. If you wish to
use this, please write to the Chief Executive, Jean Morgan, setting out
your concerns and what action you think the Council ought to take. If you
are still unhappy at the end of that process, you can contact the
independent Information Commissioner and we will provide their details at
the appropriate time.
Kind Regards,
Lisa
Lisa Mansell
LLPG Custodian
South Northamptonshire Council
Springfields
Towcester
NN12 6AE
01327 322187
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am trying to contact Mrs Kehoe to let her know that I cannot get through
to her on her email address. She has previously contacted the council from
this email address.
I have tried the email address [1][email address] but it has
been bounced back to me.
Please can you pass on the message to let her know that I am having
trouble getting through to her.
Kind regards
Beth
Beth Baines
Accountancy Manager
South Northamptonshire Council
01327 322223
07722313222
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Baines, Beth,
My FOI has been responded to.
I have posted an annotation.
In brief I have posted that the information given to me over the past 8 phone calls to SNC has been at times wrong and misleading.
I suggest that future Council Tax Notices be in newspapers not just one. That all link's via the SNC web site be working, that all Civil Servants be aware of the notice when the public phone and that as it is an offer to pay it should be clearly relayed to the public, that it is an offer to pay.
This I hope will stop all confusion to the public.
May I add that I found you curtious and polite whenever I phoned you, Thankyou.
I will be emailing Jean Morgan and Andrea Leadsom with the same suggestions for future council tax notices for the public to respond to.
Yours sincerely,
linda: of the kehoe family
Dear Baines, Beth,
Dear Baines, Beth,
My FOI has been responded to.
I have posted an annotation.
In brief I have posted that the information over the past 8 phone
calls to SNC has been at times wrong and misleading.
I suggest that future Council Tax Notices be in newspapers not just
one. That the all link's via the SNC web site be working, that all
Civil Servants be aware of the notice when the public phone and that as
it is an offer to pay it should be clearly relayed to the public, that
it is an offer to pay.
This I hope will stop all confusion to the public.
May I add that I found you curtious and polite whenever I phoned you,
Thankyou.
I will be emailing Jean Morgan and Andrea Leadsom with the same
suggestions for future council tax notices for the public to respond
to.
Yours sincerely,
linda of the kehoe family
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Wright
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Mrs Wright left an annotation ()
I once again contacted the South Northants Council regarding the council tax notice to the public on Friday 10th March. I have to say that the information was once again misleading and not easily obtainable. The information given to me when I phoned on Thursday 10th March: Towcester Post Friday edition. Not there!!!
I phone SNC again Beth said Chronical and Echo, went back into the shop Myself, shop keeper and his wife looked not there!Phoned SNC again, it was in the C7E yesterday (Thursday 9th)
I phoned Chronical & Echo they are sending me out a copy from Thursday 9th.
I have read the response for my FOI request and Beth states that she had an incorrect email address for me.
She admitted that she had been forwarded my email to the CEO of South Northants Council, Jean Morgan regarding this matter. Why did she not respond using that email? I have been led a merry dance for weeks now regarding the Public Council Tax Notice, Why the dis-information?
I will follow on with suggestions to the CEO Jean Morgan as to how the Council Tax Notice can be more easily accessible to the people.