As household budgets feel strain, Councils urged not to take people to court

February 7th, 2009

The Liberal Democrats have claimed that Councils in England and Wales are being too hasty in taking people to court if they have fallen behind with their council tax payments.

They claim that figures show one million people received summons to court and that 600,000 debtors faced a visit from the bailiffs. Councils also filed for bankruptcy against defaulters in 1,700 cases. The Liberal Democrats said that councils should follow a code of conduct where the emphasis is on a payment plan agreement, rather than a court case, especially with household budgets coming under increasing strain during the economic downturn.

The Local Government Association (LGA) claimed that only 1 per cent of cases ever got to court and that filing for bankruptcy against people was a last resortUnder the Freedom of Information Act 172 councils responded, but the LGA insisted that they have a duty to those who pay their council tax, to pursue those who do not.

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Entry Filed under: Business

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