FOI release

Use of bailiffs in 2018/19

Case reference FOI2019/00460

Published 23 May 2019

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we would like to request the following information.

1) The number of times between 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2019, or the nearest available twelve month period, that private bailiffs/enforcement agents have been instructed to enforce debts to the local authority relating to each of the following;

a. Council tax

b. Parking

c. Housing Benefit overpayments

d. Business Rates

e. Commercial Rents

f. Any other debt types, including any other overpayments

By "private bailiffs/enforcement agents" we mean those who are self-employed or who work for private companies, including as high court enforcement officers. Please include cases where local authority employees have visited a property to enforce a warrant of control.

2) Do you signpost residents to one or more free debt advice agencies as part of your collections process? (Yes/No) If so, which charities?

3) Have you adopted the Standard Financial Statement (or Common Financial Statement) as a tool for objectively assessing income and expenditure as part of your collections process? (Yes/No)

4) Do you have a formal policy in place for dealing with residents in vulnerable circumstances as part of your collections process? (Yes/No)

5) Do you currently have a policy of exempting recipients of Council Tax Support from the use of bailiff action? (Yes/No)

6) Have you adopted the Citizens Advice/Local Government Association Council Tax Protocol? (Yes/No)

Response

1a 1376

1b 528

1c 265

1d 54

1e 1

1f 17

2. Yes, Citizens' Advice Bureau

3. No

4. No

5. No

6. No

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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