Statement on Citizens Advice report on council tax collection

  • By Gemma Kappala-R...

In response to a report published by Citizens Advice about council tax debt collection, Cllr Muhammed Butt, London Councils’ Executive member for Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion said:

“Council tax makes up around one third of London local government’s funding and is used for services such as caring for the elderly and vulnerable, cleaning streets and providing housing for homeless families. It supports the fundamental functions of London boroughs, which will have absorbed a 63% reduction to their core funding between 2010 and 2020.

“Even so, council tax should not impose an undue burden on those already facing financial difficulty. We support the Local Government Association raising this issue with central government to see whether a more just and fair process can be agreed. Amongst other measures, we would support a review of whether it is necessary for councils to get a liability order, which incurs a fee to initiate council tax collection on late payments.

“We urge individuals struggling to pay their council tax bills to get in touch with their borough for financial help and advice.”

Click here to read the report.

ENDS