Re: Freedom of Information Act Request – Council Tax Enforcement

The request was partially successful.

Dear Oxford City Council,

I am writing to request information held by this council pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please provide information held by you in relation to admission to prison for Council Tax non-payment over the period starting on 1 January 2019 and ending on 1 September 2021, broken down by calendar year.

Please provide the following information:

1) Against how many people were committal proceedings with regard to unpaid council tax commenced?

2) How many people were committed to prison for non-payment of council tax?

3) What was the overall total number of days served in prison by all of the people committed to prison for non-payment of council tax owed to the local authority?

If anything is unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act you are required to advise and assist requesters.

It would be appreciated if all of the information could be provided in Excel format, rather than pdf, if available.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Tara Casey
Women’s Justice Caseworker

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Casey,

Oxford City Council – Reference: 10428

Thank you for your email. Your request was received on 23rd September 2021 and you will be sent a response within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a third party.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented challenges all are facing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In particular they understand that resources, whether they are finances or people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work. Whilst the ICO can’t extend statutory timescales, they will not be penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

Therefore while the Council will make every effort to comply with the Statutory Requirements you may experience understandable delays when making information rights requests during the pandemic.

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS | Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

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freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Casey

Oxford City Council Reference: 10428

Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of Information Act 2000 request received on 23rd September 2021 as follows:

"We have done no committals to prison for non-payment of council tax between January 2019 and on 1 September 2021. "

If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s) made. You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either email – [email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS. After the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf. You may do this by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Joyce Fagan
Information Governance Requests Officer

Joyce Fagan | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [email address]  T: 01865 252 425 My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

show quoted sections