Councillors and Council Tax Arrears
Hello,
I'm writing to you in the hope of obtaining information relating to the number of reminder letters and summons sent to elected councillors in your authority area since 2015/16.
I'd prefer to receive the information in Excel spreadsheet - xlsx or xls - format and if you cannot provide the information in full, I would like to request that you provide as much as you are able to within the cost and time limits of the Act.
If you need clarification or can suggest ways in which the request can be refined in order for it to be successful, I'd be grateful if you could contact me as soon as possible.
Please note that there is precedent for councillors to be named in relation to this issue - the High Court ruled in March 2015 that they should not have their identities protected when it comes to non-payment of council tax.
I'd like to know the following:
1. How many unpaid council tax reminders were sent to councillors elected in your authority between 2015/16 and 2017/18? Please break down by financial year?
2. How many councillors were summonsed to court or given summary warrants in the same period? Again, please break down by financial year.
3a. How many reminders were issued to the councillors named? Please break down by year.
3b. For each instance, please provide the name of each councillor, the party they represent or represented at the time and the amount of council tax owed according to sums requested in the letter. Please also provide the amount of council tax that remains outstanding.
3c. Please also state for each councillor, whether they were barred from voting on the council's budget as a result of their council tax arrears and whether any summons received resulted in a court hearing going ahead.
I'd be grateful if you could provide the information for questions 1 and 2 as totals for your authority and present the rest of the information within a spreadsheet with the following columns:
Financial Year - Authority Name - Councillor Name - Party - No of Reminders - No of Summons - Amount Owed According to Reminders - Court Hearing Y/N - Outcome of Hearing - Banned from Voting Y/N - Current Sum Outstanding
Yours faithfully,
Joanna Morris
Thank you for your email.
Your request for information will be dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations and will be
allocated a reference number. It will be passed to the most appropriate
council department to gather the information. The department may respond
directly to you, but you may receive a response from the Information
Governance Team via [1][Blackpool Borough Council request email].
In line with the legislation, we strive to respond promptly but no later
than 20 working days after the date of receipt. If we need to extend this
to clarify your request or to undertake a complex Public Interest Test we
will let you know.
Information Governance Team
Blackpool Council
Remember to vote. Local elections take place on Thursday 2 May.Visit
[2]www.blackpool.gov.uk/elections for more information.
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Dear Joanna
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST
Thank you for your request for information that we received on 12.04.2019. Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
You will receive the information you have requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to any exemptions that may apply.
You should note that the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent disclosure of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption categories apply, the information will not be disclosed. If there are references to a third party, they may be consulted prior to a decision being made on whether or not to disclose the information. You will be informed if either of these is applicable, including your rights of appeal.
There may be a fee payable for this information. If this is the case, you will be informed in writing and a ‘Fees Notice’ will be issued. The fee must be paid before the information is processed and disclosed. The 20 working day time limit for responses will commence on receipt of the payment if a fee is applicable.
If appropriate, the information will be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you require another format, e.g. audio, large print, translation or CD, please let me know.
If you have any queries you can contact me or write to: FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at [Blackpool Borough Council request email]. Please remember to quote your reference number when you contact us.
Yours sincerely
Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH
Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [email address]
Remember to vote. Local elections take place on Thursday 2 May.Visit
[1]www.blackpool.gov.uk/elections for more information.
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Good afternoon,
Please find attached a response to your request for information.
Kind Regards,
Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnership| Blackpool Council | Number One | Bickerstaffe
Square | Blackpool | FY1 3AH
Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
E: [1][email address]
Remember to vote. Local elections take place on Thursday 2 May.Visit
[2]www.blackpool.gov.uk/elections for more information.
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References
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