SINGLE PERSON DISCOUNT REVIEW LEADS TO £237,000 INCREASE IN COUNCIL TAX COLLECTED (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

SINGLE PERSON DISCOUNT REVIEW LEADS TO £237,000 INCREASE IN COUNCIL TAX COLLECTED

December 16, 2009 12:00 AM

A review to ensure people claiming single person discount on their Council Tax are doing so correctly has resulted in £237,000 extra income for the Council.

The review matched records for people claiming single person discount with credit references to check claims were being made correctly.

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Richard Moore welcomed the review. He said, "It is important that people let us know when their circumstances change so that their Council Tax records can be amended."

"Incorrect claims for single person discount reduce the Council's income and can make Council Tax more expensive for everyone."

"The More for York project is looking at ways to improve our income collection to make the system more efficient and to ensure that the Council collects more of the money it is owed."

In addition to ensuring people are correctly claiming the single person discount, income collection staff have stepped up efforts to chase up commercial debtors.

Work to pursue the top 30 commercial debtors has resulted in 60% of outstanding debts, worth almost £250,000, either being paid or written off. The remaining £162,000 is currently being pursued by Council officers.

Councillor Moore said, "Council Tax payers expect us to pursue commercial debtors to ensure the meet their financial commitments but we do have to balance that with ensuring that due consideration is given to small and medium businesses that are struggling through the recession."

"The top 30 debtors to the Council were all large companies so we were able to pursue the debt more aggressively."

The Single Person Discount and income collection reviews form part of the More for York programme and updates were presented to the Council's Executive on 15th December.