Council Tax Collection Rates

[gynn]

There has been much discussion on Breakfast TV this morning about the money Councils are missing out on in uncollected Council Tax.

BBC News - Councils 'missed' £530m in taxes

So how are Hyndburn doing? According to statistics from the Government's web site, here in descending order of success, are the percentages of Council Tax collected by Lancashire Councils in 2010:-

Ribble Valley 99.0 Chorley 98.4 West Lancashire 98.1 Wyre 97.9 South Ribble 97.7 Fylde 97.5 Rossendale 97.5 Lancaster 97.1 Blackburn with Darwen 97.0 Pendle 96.4 Burnley 96.1 Preston 96.0 Hyndburn 95.4 Blackpool 94.4 Lancashire Average 97.0

Only Blackpool, with its notoriously transient population, performed worse.

In cash terms, Hyndburn has missed out on 1.3 million pounds. If it had performed at the Lancashire average, it would have collected a further 466,000 pounds.

Excellent?

[Neil]

That is poor. Is that £1.3 million Hyndburn part of the Council tax or the overall ammount before being split up between LCC HBC and wherever else?

[garinda]

Doesn't look too good.

Not for what we're told is an 'excellent' council.

[gynn]

Originally Posted by Neil

That is poor. Is that £1.3 million Hyndburn part of the Council tax or the overall ammount before being split up between LCC HBC and wherever else?

Its the overall amount, but the County will only accept a certain level of non collection. Anything above that becomes HBC's responsibility.

[garinda]

It would be very interesting to see a break down of the uncollected figure.

Is it mainly from empty properties?

Or just people refusing to pay?

In which case why aren't they being taken to court?

[gynn]

Originally Posted by garinda

It would be very interesting to see a break down of the uncollected figure.

Is it mainly from empty properties?

Or just people refusing to pay?

In which case why aren't they being taken to court?

If a property is empty, the owner should have told the Council, and it wouldn't be included in the total. And of course, council tax becomes chargeable on empty properties after 6 months anyway.

The vast bulk of the uncollected figure is from people who can't or won't pay.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by gynn

If a property is empty, the owner should have told the Council, and it wouldn't be included in the total. And of course, council tax becomes chargeable on empty properties after 6 months anyway.

The vast bulk of the uncollected figure is from people who can't or won't pay.

I thought if a property is empty, although there's a tax free period, it is still liable for council tax, albeit at a reduced rate, after that.

Since we're told there are 2,000 empty properties in the borough, I just wondered if the two things were related.

[gynn]

Originally Posted by garinda

I thought if a property is empty, although there's a tax free period, it is still liable for council tax, albeit at a reduced rate, after that.

Since we're told there are 2,000 empty properties in the borough, I just wondered if the two things were related.

If the Council's records are up to date, that figure for uncollected rates will include a minimal figure for empty properties.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by gynn

If the Council's records are up to date, that figure for uncollected rates will include a minimal figure for empty properties.

Properties which may be exempt include:

• property which is empty. This means it has to be unoccupied. The property also has to be substantially unfurnished. The exemption applies for a maximum of six months and the property has to be vacant for the whole of this period (although up to six weeks of occupation during the period is allowed)
• property which is vacant because it needs major repairs or alterations to make it habitable. The exemption applies for a maximum of 12 months whether the work is actually finished or not by then
• Council tax

If there are 2,000 empty properties than should be liable for council tax, it could explain why HBC is near the bottom of the uncollected table.

Who owns the majority of these properties? Private, or social landlords?

[Bernard Dawson]

Originally Posted by gynn

There has been much discussion on Breakfast TV this morning about the money Councils are missing out on in uncollected Council Tax.

BBC News - Councils 'missed' £530m in taxes

So how are Hyndburn doing? According to statistics from the Government's web site, here in descending order of success, are the percentages of Council Tax collected by Lancashire Councils in 2010:-

Ribble Valley 99.0 Chorley 98.4 West Lancashire 98.1 Wyre 97.9 South Ribble 97.7 Fylde 97.5 Rossendale 97.5 Lancaster 97.1 Blackburn with Darwen 97.0 Pendle 96.4 Burnley 96.1 Preston 96.0 Hyndburn 95.4 Blackpool 94.4 Lancashire Average 97.0

Only Blackpool, with its notoriously transient population, performed worse.

In cash terms, Hyndburn has missed out on 1.3 million pounds. If it had performed at the Lancashire average, it would have collected a further 466,000 pounds.

Excellent?

Even Rossendale are performing better. Wouldn't have happened in your day.

[garinda]

Presumably the figure includes money from business rates, from commercial properties in the borough, as well as residential council tax?

[gynn]

Originally Posted by garinda

Presumably the figure includes money from business rates, from commercial properties in the borough, as well as residential council tax?

No, business rates are separate.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by gynn

No, business rates are separate.

Ok. So this non-collection figure just relates to residential property.

Then why aren't we reading lists of prosecutions, every weeekend in the Observer, like we do for those who don't buy a television licences, or drive without insurance or road tax?

Some councils send little old ladies to prison, for not paying their full council tax bills, after holding some back, in protest about something or other.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by gynn

If a property is empty, the owner should have told the Council, and it wouldn't be included in the total. And of course, council tax becomes chargeable on empty properties after 6 months anyway.

The vast bulk of the uncollected figure is from people who can't or won't pay.

Think can't pay is not an option gynn, those who genuinely can't pay are entitled to CTB

[shillelagh]

not surprised bernard ... rossendale come after you even when you've paid it ...