Citizens Advice to suggest council tax changes

People behind on their council tax payments may benefit from a new initiative announced by Citizens Advice.

Launched in partnership with the Local Government Association, the scheme aims to offer a number of changes to the current processes involved in retrieving council tax arrears.

Chief executive of the charity David Harker said the protocol would help individuals in debt receive a fairer service.

He stated: “By setting down clear procedures and keeping them regularly under review, all parties can ensure that cases of arrears are dealt with quickly and realistically whilst complaints are handled efficiently.”

Proposals set out under the new guidelines include suggested amendments to council tax notices to ensure they provide debt advice contact details and the publication of more information on how arrears are collected.

The organisation hopes to decrease the amount of cases that are referred to bailiffs by aiding those in financial difficulty.

Last month, Citizens Advice announced that people seeking help on their council tax payments had risen by 15 per cent in 2008-09 when compared to 2007-08.

By Francis Finch