Help for people struggling to pay council tax in Northumberland after 12,500 people got bill for the first time

A report to a meeting of the county council’s corporate services committee on March 9 on the measures in place to support residents struggling to pay council tax or rent noted that there were ‘two separate changes that had a particular impact on lower-income households’ in 2019/20.

These were the roll-out of Universal Credit in Northumberland, which actually began in November and December 2018 but has picked up during this year, and the reduction in the maximum level of council-tax support.

This cut, from 100% to 92%, means that every household in the county now pays at least 8% of their council tax requirement and this year saw 12,500 people receive a bill for the very first time.

The report to councillors set out the variety of measures that are in place to help tenants and council taxpayers, encouraging them to engage with the local authority as soon as possible, while explaining that additional assistanceon top of that already provided was introduced this year alongside the council-tax support reduction.

Figures show that 26,539 accounts were sent reminders of final notices about their council-tax bills between April 1, 2018, and January 31, 2019, rising to 27,984 during the same period in the 2019-20 financial year – when the support cuts had been implemented.

Of the 27,984 this year, 16,211 accounts were those eligible for council-tax support, who had therefore been affected by the change to some extent.

Likewise, the number of summonses to magistrates’ court increased from 7,770 accounts to 8,521 accounts, with 5,414 of those receiving support.

However, the number of liability orders for non-payment of council tax made by the court dropped from 6,857 accounts in the 10-month period of 2018-19to 6,668 in 2019-20 – 3,728 were receiving council-tax support.

Graeme Barnes, the council’s revenues and benefits manager, said: “What has to be remembered here is this is a key income stream for the council and we have to do our best to collect it, while being sympathetic to people who may have problems paying and may be in difficult financial circumstances.”

The report also noted that Citizens Advice now holds the national contract to provide advice and support for recipients of Universal Credit, although council staff are still trained to and do carry out that role.

Members were full of praise for the work of the Northumberland Community Bank, which is an alternative to those on the High Street and aims to keep people from using the likes of payday loans.

Coun Nick Oliver, the cabinet member for corporate services, said that the council was in discussions about how it can support them to roll out their services further across the county.

Coun Lynne Grimshaw added: “I think it’s our duty to promote them as much as possible.”

For more on council tax in Northumberland, visit https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Tax.aspx