News from Peterborough City Council

Peterborough City Council continues to collect unpaid council tax that was not paid last year -  

 

collecting a further 1.7 per cent of the 2006/07 debt  since April.

 

By the end of March 2007, the city council had collected 96.8 per cent of council tax due. However the authority has continued to pursue outstanding debts and this figure has now risen to 98.5 per cent. The council is continuing to claw back the remaining debt by all means available including taking legal action against debtors and employing bailiffs to recover from those who continue not to pay.

 

However, the majority of customers do always pay on time and almost 38,000 customers now pay their council tax bills by the council's preferred payment method of direct debit.  Many others are also making payments via the council's website, through the call centre or via an automated free phone service.

 

The city council is also expanding the number of places where people can pay their bills by increasing the number of retail outlets which will take payments through the payzone system.  From March, all bills will include a barcode which will enable them to pay their bills at any of 50 payzone outlets in Peterborough in addition to using any Post Office.

 

Councillor Stephen Goldspink, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Efficiency and Business Improvement, said: "Peterborough City Council is committed to becoming a truly excellent local authority and increasing the choice of location where customers can pay council bills and encouraging them to use the most efficient methods possible such as direct debit are just one part of this.

 

"The progress that we have made in collecting arrears of council tax this year is further evidence that we do not stop chasing debts just because they have not been collected in the year they were due.  Indeed we will continue to take action to recover the remaining 1.5 per cent of last year's council tax that is still due.

 

"We remain committed to ensuring that the vast majority of customers who do pay on time are not subsidising those who don't.  The only thing achieved by not paying council bills on time is likely to be an increased debt that they will have to pay.

 

"If we issue a court summons this adds another £65 to the debt. If still not paid we have the option to employ bailiffs to recover the debt with the additional costs this will bring. Finally, in certain circumstances, bankruptcy proceedings can be taken against people who still do not clear their debts.

 

"Our advice to customers is pay on time and avoid any risk of incurring these additional costs. Direct debit is the city council's preferred method of payment because it is by far the easiest and most efficient way to pay.

 

"Those who do use this method can choose whether to make payments on the first, eighth, 15^th or 25^th of the month. The majority of our customers have now opted to pay by this more efficient payment method.

 

"We are also aware that some of our residents genuinely do struggle to pay their council tax and I would again encourage anyone with a low income to contact our benefits team to check whether they may be entitled to some assistance."