I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002:1. How many referrals has your local authority made to a debt collection agency for a) council tax debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 yearsb) council house rent arrears broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
b) any other form of debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
2. How much money, in total, has your local authority requested to be recovered by debt collection agencies for 1 a), b) and c) for the last last 5 tax years
3. How much money, in total, has your local authority recovered by debt collection agencies for 1 a), b) and c) for the last last 5 tax years
Response
1. How many referrals has your local authority made to a debt collection agency for
a) council tax debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
Council tax debt is referred to Sheriff Officers. The figures below are the number of Council Tax accounts referred to the Sheriff Officer during the given financial year. Please note that accounts referred during a financial year could be for debt from a previous financial year and a Council Tax account can be referred to the Sheriff Officer more than once in a financial year.
2020/21 – 3719
2019/20 – 5460
2018/19 – 5557
2017/18 – 6317
2016/17 - 6561
b) council house rent arrears broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
Information not held - Scottish Borders Council are a stock transfer local authority, therefore we give notice of Section 17 of FOI(S)A 2002 and declare this information is not held.
b) any other form of debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
Year No of referrals Total Debt Debt Recovered
2016-17 85 £27,780.84 £7,324.72
2017-18 65 £23,460.18 £6,740.84
2018-19 11 £ 5,250.15 £1,053.17
2019-20 18 £11,083.67 £2,735.68
2020-21 32 £66,452.25 £6,339.70
2. How much money, in total, has your local authority requested to be recovered by debt collection agencies for 1 a), b) and c) for the last 5 tax years
a) council tax debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
As per question 1, accounts referred during a financial year may not necessarily be for debt relating to that financial year i.e. an amount requested for collection in 2020/21 could be for debt from a previous financial year.
2020/21 - £3438675.99
2019/20 - £4393657.85
2018/19 - £3995643.17
2017/18 - £4210870.17
2016/17 - £4117013.97
b) council house rent arrears broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
Information not held - Scottish Borders Council are a stock transfer local authority, therefore we give notice of Section 17 of FOI(S)A 2002 and declare this information is not held.
c) Year No of referrals Total Debt Debt Recovered
2016-17 85 £27,780.84 £7,324.72
2017-18 65 £23,460.18 £6,740.84
2018-19 11 £ 5,250.15 £1,053.17
2019-20 18 £11,083.67 £2,735.68
2020-21 32 £66,452.25 £6,339.70
2. How much money, in total, has your local authority requested to be recovered by debt collection agencies for 1 a), b) and c) for the last 5 tax years
a) council tax debt broken down by tax year for the last 5 years
As per question 1, accounts referred during a financial year may not necessarily be for debt relating to that financial year i.e. an amount requested for collection in 2020/21 could be for debt from a previous financial year.
2020/21 - £3438675.99
2019/20 - £4393657.85
2018/19 - £3995643.17
2017/18 - £4210870.17
2016/17 - £4117013.97
3. How much money, in total, has your local authority recovered by debt collection agencies for
a) Council Tax debt
Figures below relate to debt recovered during the financial year. Please note that debt recovered in a financial year could be for debt from a previous financial year
2020/21 - £1210610.34
2019/20 - £1696724.87
2018/19 - £1720158.85
2017/18 - £1757127.56
2016/17 - £1532290.61
b) Council house rent arrears
Information not held - Scottish Borders Council are a stock transfer local authority, therefore we give notice of Section 17 of FOI(S)A 2002 and declare this information is not held.
c) Year No of referrals Total Debt Debt Recovered
2016-17 85 £27,780.84 £7,324.72
2017-18 65 £23,460.18 £6,740.84
2018-19 11 £ 5,250.15 £1,053.17
2019-20 18 £11,083.67 £2,735.68
2020-21 32 £66,452.25 £6,339.70
