Criteria for deciding eligibility for charging council tax

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar did not have the information requested.

Dear Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,

I am making this request with consideration given to my Freedom of Information rights.
Please could you provide me with any or all information which informs how you decide whether a house is of fit state to charge council tax?

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Colman

CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dear Nigel

I write to acknowledge receipt of your request for information and note
the terms of your request as detailed below.  We've automatically assigned
this request an reference of 2020011527000329.  Please use this reference
number in all correspondence with us (Tip: replying to this email, so that
the ticket ref is included in email subject is the easiest way to
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your request for information will be issued promptly and in any event
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--
Le durachd,
Freedom of Information Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BQ
Web: [1]www.cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 822721 (Extension 211 599)

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CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dear Mr Colman,

Re: help desk request (ticket ref [1]2020011527000329)

Thank you for your recent request submitted under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002. The decision as to whether a house is
given a council tax banding is for the Assessor and not the council. Any
property on the council tax roll will be charged accordingly but may be
entitled to a reduction depending on the circumstances. There is no
reduction for a property on the basis of the habitable status of the
property.

 

 

If you are dissatisfied with this response you can request the Comhairle
to review this response to your request for information.  You have 40
working days from the date of receipt of this response in which to lodge
this request for review.  A request for review must be processed in
accordance with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002,
must be in writing, describe your original request and explain why you are
dissatisfied.  An application for review should be sent to Legal Services
Manager, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Council Offices, Sandwick Road,
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW ([2][email address]).  A
request for review lodged with the Legal Services Manager must be
processed promptly and in any event within 20 working days of receipt.
 

Should you remain dissatisfied after completion of the review process you
may, within 6 months, apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner,
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Information Commissioner you have the right to appeal to the Court of
Session on a point of law.

--
Kind regards
FOI Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BW
Email: [Comhairle nan Eilean Siar request email]
Web: [4]https://www..cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 600 501 (Extension 211598)

15/01/2020 13:30 - Nigel wrote:
[External Email]

Dear Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,

I am making this request with consideration given to my Freedom of
Information
rights.
Please could you provide me with any or all information which informs how
you
decide whether a house is of fit state to charge council tax?

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Colman

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Dear CNES FOI Team,

Thanks for your response in which you state that an assessor decides.

Can you please clarify. Are you telling me that you have no criteria to decide whether a property is eligible for charging council tax on record? And are you also telling me that this decision is carried out by a private sector assessor?

Yours sincerely,

Nigel

CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dear Mr Colman,

Re: help desk request (ticket ref [1]2020011527000329)

In reply to the additional questions:
Are you telling me that you have no criteria to decide whether a property
is eligible for charging council tax on record? As stated previously we
have to charge council tax for every property on the council tax roll as
decided by the Assessor. Some properties do not need to pay as they have
the charge reduced based on their circumstances which is our decision in
line with Scottish Council Tax legislation. There is no reduction
available purely for the reason that the property is uninhabitable.

And are you also telling me that this decision is carried out by a private
sector assessor? The decision on whether a property is on the council tax
roll is made by the Assessor who is NOT based in the private sector. For
more information please visit [2]https://www.saa.gov.uk/the-assessor/

--
Kind regards
FOI Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BW
Email: [Comhairle nan Eilean Siar request email]
Web: [3]https://www..cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 600 501 (Extension 211598)

15/01/2020 13:30 - Nigel wrote:
[External Email]

Dear CNES FOI Team,

Thanks for your response in which you state that an assessor decides.

Can you please clarify. Are you telling me that you have no criteria to
decide
whether a property is eligible for charging council tax on record? And are
you
also telling me that this decision is carried out by a private sector
assessor?

Yours sincerely,

Nigel

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