MAYOR ANNOUNCES A FAIRER APPROACH TO COUNCIL TAX COLLECTION

It has become the first council in Greater Manchester to sign a national good practice collection protocol designed to make collecting the vital tax fairer and more effective. 

As part of the new way of working, City Mayor Paul Dennett has exempted around 50 care leavers aged 18 to 21 from paying council tax to give them a boost into independence.

He has also stopped the use of bailiffs to collect a debt from residents signed up to the council tax reduction scheme if they fall deeply into arrears. Over 25,700 pensioners and people on the lowest incomes qualify for the council tax reduction scheme.

Instead, anyone in arrears is being invited to sit down with an independent debt advisor and get help to work out a sustainable council tax payment plan and sort out their long-term financial situation. 

So far 135 people have been spared a visit from the bailiffs by taking up the ‘coffee and chat’ option. Last year Salford City Council sent nearly 22,000 cases to the bailiffs to recover £1.9 million.

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Paula Boshell said:

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“This protocol is supported by Citizens Advice and the Local Government Association so it’s based on nationally tried and tested good practice. I’m proud that we are the first council in Greater Manchester to adopt it and help those people on our council tax reduction scheme.

“We’ve kept the council tax reduction scheme going for three years now. Pensioners may be able to get up to 100% council tax relief while people on the lowest incomes may get up to 85% discount if they qualify.

“We’re clear that this is about collecting what is owed to fund vital council services. But we’re equally clear that piling legal fees onto an already unmanageable debt for people who are struggling to pay is not the way forward. We want to help them get onto a sound financial footing as part of our work in tackling poverty.”

 

Tom Togher, Chief Executive of Salford Citizen’s Advice, who jointly signed the LGA and Citizens Advice’s Collection of Council Tax Good Practice Protocol, said:

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“We’re proud to support Salford City Council in implementing this protocol.

“Anyone who is struggling to pay council tax, gas or electricity bills or has debts should get help and advice as soon as they can. Very often a little help early on can save problems from becoming serious.

 

Anyone who needs debt, benefits or welfare rights advice can phone  0161 974 6721 or  check out www.salfordcab.org.uk for details of their nearest Citizens Advice or contact Salford City Council welfare rights advice 0800 345 7375 (Monday to Friday 10am to 12 noon), debt advice 0800 345 7323 (Monday and Wednesday 1pm to 4pm) or see  www.salford.gov.uk/advice-and-support