Birmingham to use bailiffs to collect council tax cash from 32,000 households

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Bill Payments, Communities, Housing

Birmingham City Council is to use bailiffs to collect money owed in council tax from 32,000 households during the current financial year, it has been revealed.

In a letter addressed to councillors, the city's Cabinet Member for Finance Randall Brew said the council had "little option" but to use enforced debt collection methods, which he expected would help to recoup around £25 million.

Mr Brew said: "This year we estimate that we will have little option but to refer around 32,000 accounts to the value of approximately £25 million to bailiffs. I appreciate this may sound a lot to colleagues, however we do need to bear in mind that each year we send out 422,500 new bills totalling just under £300 million as well as continuing to pursue around 55,000 other accounts at a value of £70 million in arrears from pervious years.

Mr Brew also attempted to reassure councillors that the council used bailiffs as a last resort.

"We have always sought to ensure that those citizens, who cannot afford to pay the full council tax charge due to their circumstances, are granted their full legal entitlement to council tax benefit," he said.

"It is, however, my responsibility to attach at least equal importance to recovery and enforcement activity where citizens fail to pay their council tax even when they have the means to do so."

He added: "I can assure colleagues that my officers take seriously any complaints relating to the conduct of indiviudal bailiffs. Any such measures are fully investigated and there are regular feedback sessions with the companies involved."