FOI request (FOIR-614645655)

Debt collection agencies - Council Tax/Business Rates

Requested Wed 15 May 2024
Responded Fri 07 June 2024

1. Has your local authority employed debt collection agencies to collect unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years?

2. Has your local authority employed bailiffs to collect unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years?

3. Has your local authority applied for any bankruptcy petitions against people with unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years? If so, how many?

4. Has your local authority applied for any charging orders against people with unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years? If so, how many?

5. Has your local authority 'sold' any books of council tax or business rates debt over the last five years?

If it looks as if the work involved in responding to this FOI is going to exceed the time permitted, please only answer points 1, 2, 3 and 4. If this is not possible, please only answer points 1, 2 and 3. If this is not possible, please only answer points 1 and 2. If this is not possible, please only answer point 1.

Response

The Freedom of Information Act is based on recorded information held by a local authority, it is not a tool to ask questions.

1. This is a question, and therefore falls outside the remit of the act.

2. This is a question, and therefore falls outside the remit of the act.

3. This is a question, and therefore falls outside the remit of the act.

4. 35 charging orders in the last 5 years.

5. This is a question, and therefore falls outside the remit of the act.