Rushcliffe MP James Naish is encouraging Rushcliffe residents to respond to the government’s consultation on council tax reform which closes this Friday, 12th September.
At a time when the cost of living remains high, ministers are concerned that traditional approaches to council tax collection – including lump-sum payment demands, rapid liability orders and the use of bailiffs without welfare checks or affordable payment plans – is disproportionately impacting people already facing hardship, and also proving costly and ineffective for councils trying to recover revenue.
Items under consideration by the government as part of the consultation include:
- changing council tax billing from 10 months to 12 months by default to assist with managing finances.
- ways to improve the transparency of council tax information and where taxpayers’ money is spent.
- considering who is ‘disregarded’ from council tax (e.g. full-time students, apprentices, diplomats, prisoners).
- making it easier for residents to challenge council tax banding.
- improving processes for collecting and enforcing council tax charges.
On the latter, figures from the national ‘Stop the Knock’ campaign show Rushcliffe Borough Council made 2,277 referrals to enforcement agents in 2022-23, with 2,047 of those linked directly to council tax. This represented a 39% increase since the Covid-19 pandemic, evidencing the pressure that some local households are under, as well as an increase in formal and often aggressive collection practices.
James Naish MP said:
“Most people know that Council Tax processes have remained largely unchanged since they were first introduced in 1993, with the amount everyone owes in England still based on the price their property would have sold for on the open market on 1st April 1991. It’s nuts.
“This consultation is looking at how council tax processes can be modernised.
“Although the consultation is focused on the administration of council tax rather than fundamental reform of the council tax system, I’d like to encourage Rushcliffe residents to share their views given the importance of fair, humane but robust processes.”
The consultation closes on Friday 12th September.
👉 Have your say here: Modernising and improving the administration of council tax – Ministerial foreword – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Citizen Space
OR DIRECTLY TO THE FORM Modernising and improving the administration of council tax – Personal details – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Citizen Space
