Nearly 6,000 debts owed to Bath & North East Somerset Council were referred to bailiffs in 2022/23, newly released figures from National Debtline and the Centre for Social Justice have revealed.
There are now renewed calls for improvements to be made to the council’s debt collection practices.
National Debtline, the free debt advice service run by charity the Money Advice Trust, has written to Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, urging the local authority to commit to improving the way it collects council tax arrears and other debts.
Bath & North East Somerset Council figures, revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request, show the authority referred 5,921 debts to bailiffs in the 2022/23 financial year.
The Money Advice Trust says that bailiff use remains too high, with action needed to improve collection practices so that fewer debts are sent to bailiffs in the first place.
Across England and Wales, 2.71 million debts were referred to bailiffs by councils during 2022/23 – broadly unchanged on pre-pandemic levels (2.65 million in 2018/19).
The findings, based on Freedom of Information requests to local authorities, form part of wider research into council tax debt and collection practices published by the Centre for Social Justice, which reveals that 1.3 million households fell behind on their council tax bill in 2022/23.
Bailiffs, known officially as enforcement agents, have the right to visit a property and can remove and sell goods to repay certain debts, including council tax arrears, parking penalty charge notices and other debts.
National Debtline is calling for national changes from the Government to help reduce and reform bailiff action, including through new ring-fenced funding for councils to provide 100% Council Tax Support schemes for those on the lowest incomes.
Locally, the charity-run service is calling for Bath & North East Somerset Council to adopt all six of its ‘six steps’ to improve collection practices.
This includes exempting residents receiving local Council Tax Support from any form of bailiff action.
Steve Vaid, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline, said: “Local authorities remain under significant financial pressure and council tax plays a crucial role in funding vital local services.
“Facing bailiff action, however, can be a distressing experience and risks pushing people already struggling into deeper financial difficulty. Bailiffs should only ever be used as a last resort.
“Unfortunately Bath & North East Somerset Council’s use of bailiffs remains high. Improving debt collection practices benefits not just people in financial difficulty, but councils too.
“We have written to the Leader to set out simple steps they can take to improve the way the council collects debts it is owed.
“We are also calling on the new government to support Bath & North East Somerset Council and other councils by introducing ring-fenced funding to enable all local authorities to provide 100 percent Council Tax Support to households on the lowest incomes.
“I would urge anyone in Bath and North East Somerset struggling with their finances to get in touch with National Debtline as soon as possible. Our expert advisers provide free, impartial support and can help residents make a plan whatever their circumstances.”
Councillor Mark Elliott, B&NES Council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “Not collecting money owed to the council means less money is available to provide services for residents, however enforcement agents are only ever used as a last resort and where people do not engage.
“The majority of the enforcement action we have taken relates to parking and other highways fines and there is a legal right of appeal to the council and an independent adjudicator against these fines.
“With regard to Council Tax, we encourage residents who are struggling with Council Tax bills to get in touch so we can offer support with debt management and agree a payment arrangement together.”
People struggling with debt are encouraged to contact National Debtline, which offers free, independent debt advice, on 0808 808 4000 or at www.nationaldebtline.org.
