FOI request (FOIR-501451894)

NDR Recovery Action

Requested Mon 27 March 2023
Responded Fri 16 June 2023

In relation to NDR debt recovery and the enforcement options available once a liability order has been obtain:

1. Do you ever use alternative method of recovery through a court of competent jurisdiction (Regulations 10(2) and 20(1) Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 S.I.1989/1058), between 2018/19 and 2023/24?

a. If yes how many/% per year?

b. How many/% were successful?

2. Liability Orders

a. How many NDR debt Liability Orders have been applied for in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. How many Liability Orders have been granted per year for NDR debt in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

3. Enforcement Agents

a. How many NDR debts have been sent to Enforcement Agents in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. How much NDR debt was collected via Enforcement Agents in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

4. Security for Unpaid Rates Non-Domestic Rating

a. If used how many per year in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. What are the average costs to pursue this method?

c. How many of the debts subject to this method of recovery have been collected in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

5. Insolvency

a. If used how many in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. If used do you use an external company to undertake this work?

c. What was the average cost for undertaking each insolvency action?

6. Commitment to Prison Inquiry into Means and Conduct

a. How many in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. What % of these resulted in debt successfully recovered?

7. S49 Powers to reduce or remit liability

a. How many times has this been implemented in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

b. What was total sum/% of this 'relief' in each year 2018/19 - 2022/23?

---

Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.

1. No

1a. Not applicable

1b. Not applicable

2a. Liability Orders

2018/19 - 320

2019/20 - 227

2020/21 - 0

2021/22 - 424

2022/23 - 311

2b. Liability Orders

2018/19 - 258

2019/20 - 158

2020/21 - 0

2021/22 - 275

2022/23 - 195

The first figure is based on number of summonses issued for Court and the second figure is the number of Liability Orders granted (difference will be due to them being paid in full before court, withdrawal of Summons and adjournments).

3a. Enforcement Agents

2018/19 - 236

2019/20 - 137

2020/21 - 0

2021/22 - 363

2022/23 - 225

The above numbers reflect cases passed to the Enforcement Agents, but does not take into account any cases returned (either at our request or the Enforcement Agents returning them to us).

3b. Enforcement Agents

2018/19 - £105,806.62

2019/20 - £88,388.37

2020/21 - nil

2021/22 - £282,291.15

2022/23 - £221,635.11

4. No

4a. Not applicable

4b. Not applicable

>p>4c. Not applicable

5. Hastings Borough Council has not instigated any insolvency proceedings during this period.

6. Hastings Borough Council has not taken any action regarding commitment to prison inquiries during this period.

7. None