Council use of enforcement agencies for debt-collecting

Helen Hoddinott made this Freedom of Information request to South Norfolk District Council as part of a batch sent to 369 authorities Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was successful.

To whom it may concern,

I would please like to request the following information:

1) In the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24), could you please provide me with the total monetary value of council-related debts (such as council tax, parking fines, failures to pay business rates and housing arrears) which were referred to external enforcement agencies?

2) Of this figure, please could you provide the amount that was recovered by external debt agencies broken down for each of the financial years referenced?

3) For each of those financial years, please provide the number of complaints the council has received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email address] should any aspect of my request require clarification.

Yours faithfully, and many thanks,

Helen Hoddinott

noreply, South Norfolk District Council

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3. mailto:[South Norfolk District Council request email]

FOI (SNC), South Norfolk District Council

Dear Helen

I refer to your Freedom of Information request to which I am now in a position to respond on behalf of South Norfolk Council.

My response is outlined below along with your questions for ease of reference.

In the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24), could you please provide me with the total monetary value of council-related debts (such as council tax, parking fines, failures to pay business rates and housing arrears) which were referred to external enforcement agencies?

Council Tax and NNDR

21/22

Council Tax £1,004,241,88
NNDR £147,811.26

22/23

Council Tax £947,132.84
NNDR £172,691,88

23/24

Council Tax £1,055,968
NNDR £61,268.52

Of this figure, please could you provide the amount that was recovered by external debt agencies broken down for each of the financial years referenced?

21/22

Council Tax £198,650.03
NNDR £84,278.02

22/23

Council Tax £211,872.38
NNDR £34,319.35

23/24

Council Tax £110,710.28
NNDR £12,641.23

3. For each of those financial years, please provide the number of complaints the council has received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors.

Complaints regarding Enforcement Agents conduct are referred to the enforcement agent company for internal investigation. No complaints been escalated to the council for review within the specified times

Off-street parking fines/Penalty Charge Notices.

Value /Collected
2021/22 £2253.00/£830.00
2022/23 £1236.00/£420.00
2023/24 £3114.00/£168.00

No known complaints.

The Council does not use any external enforcement agents for Housing Arrears.

I hope this is of assistance and is sufficient to meet your requirements, but if, for whatever reason you wish to get back to me, please feel free to do so. In particular, if you are unhappy with the information provided or how your request was handled, please let me know and I will explain how you can request an internal review of our decision.

Please quote SFOI 24-38 in any further correspondence concerning this request.

Regards.

Suzanne

Suzanne Edwards
Governance Support Officer
t 01603 430450 e [email address]

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