Response 974146

Response to request for information

Reference

974146

Response date

14 December 2022

Request

1. Number of households in council tax arrears
2. The total amount of council tax owed by these households
3. The number of cases of council tax debt passed to bailiffs (note these are also called 'enforcement agents') and the overall amount of council tax which was owed (just in relation to the cases which were passed to bailiffs)
4. Total amount recovered by bailiffs 
5. The total amount in bailiff fees and court costs added to these council tax arrears
6. The names of enforcement agencies employed by the council. (If multiple, please detail % split of cases allocated if the information is available)
7. How much are the fees that can be added on to council tax debts to cover bailiff and court order costs, and how are these calculated? (Is there a percentage or flat fee?) 
8. Number of bankruptcy proceedings started against individuals who owe you council tax

Response

1. Number of households in council tax arrears

   • Liability Orders Obtained 

   • 2019/20 Financial Year – 2306

   • 2020/21 Financial Year – 1215

   • 2021/22 Financial Year – 2332

   • 2022/23 Financial Year - 1839

2. The total amount of council tax owed by these households

   • Current amounts outstanding regarding previous years (current year not available)

   •  

     2019/20 Financial Year – £361,769.69

      

   • 2020/21 Financial Year – £447,639.41

   • 2021/22 Financial Year – £643,568.73

3. The number of cases of council tax debt passed to bailiffs (note these are also called 'enforcement agents') and the overall amount of council tax which was owed (just in relation to the cases which were passed to bailiffs)

   • Total number of cases passed to enforcement agent (amounts not available) 

   • 2019/20 Financial Year – 2124

   • 2020/21 Financial Year – 997

   • 2021/22 Financial Year – 2465

   • 2022/23 Financial Year - 1664

4. Total amount recovered by bailiffs 

   • 2019/20 Financial Year – £576,332.25

   • 2020/21 Financial Year – £216,528.33

   • 2021/22 Financial Year – £589,793.55

   • 2022/23 Financial Year - £385,273.71

5. The total amount in bailiff fees and court costs added to these council tax arrears

   • Bailiff fees none 

   • Total Court Costs outstanding as at 01/12/2022 - £270,124.94

6. The names of enforcement agencies employed by the council. (If multiple, please detail % split of cases allocated if the information is available)

   • Bristow and Sutor

   • Newlyns

   • Penham Excel

   • Equita

7. How much are the fees that can be added on to council tax debts to cover bailiff and court order costs, and how are these calculated? (Is there a percentage or flat fee?) 

   • Please see “The taking Control of Goods (Fees) regulations 2014” regarding enforcement agent fees

   • The costs for the obtaining of the liability order is a fixed amount recalculated each year to reflect admin cost

8. Number of bankruptcy proceedings started against individuals who owe you council tax
   • One