Across the country Citizens Advice saved local authorities £57m in 2014 by reducing homelessness (see below).
At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we value our working relationships with council members and staff to help people in arrears with council tax payment.
Our advisers help the two sides agree a realistic repayment plan. That’s a plan that works for the council, who begin to collect unpaid bills and avoid the cost of another eviction. And the debtor, who can stay in their home and manage their other outgoings.
Saving money for taxpayers and preventing misery for families makes sense.
Unfortunately these valued partnerships are at risk from a government plan to make collection more efficient by effectively obliging councils to demand payment from a debtor’s employer with no regard to individual circumstances or ability to pay.
More efficiency is NOT the likely outcome as we pointed out earlier this month.
We hope the Department for Communities and Local Government will think again. Their consultation on the plan closed in November. Currently they “are analysing your feedback”.