These people are the incarnatiuon of the infamous 'Button Pushers', videos of whom have caused us to doubt our Humanity...their job is to push buttons; that's what they're paid to do.
The pain & suffering at the end of the wires is of no concern to them...

Richard - I think your dwellings count for North East Lincolnshire is out. It should be around the 69,000 mark. Here is a good source containing an Excel file with all local authority dwellings: "Dwelling Stock Estimates: 2010, England - Tables"

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicati ... gstock2010

7.3 The income stream for cost of collection through the courts for the period 1st April 2010 to 15th October 2010 is £116,313 compare this to the same period last year and the costs were £136,585. This is a reduction to the income stream of £20,272 or 14.84%.

7.4 The cost per summons has increased for the year 2010/11 from £50.00 to £60.00. The budget for the cost of collection expenditure has remained the same.

9.1 From evaluating the data so far there has been a reduction in the income stream through court costs of £20,272 or 14.84%. The budget for cost of collection expenditure has remained the same which is £30,500 per annum.

Further rigour has been applied to the test of reasonableness by comparing our proposed costs level with those currently applied by comparable local authorities within our audit family group. This is shown in the table at Appendix 3.

I are been a-googling the gubmint domain and have confuddled myself.

Does this really mean what I think it means? [pages 33 to 35]

Courtesy of warwickshire.gov.uk:



Later


They budgeted £30,500 *per annum* and had an income stream of £116k in a little over 6 months?

Also in that section are details of the cost of sending out notices and reminders. A few pounds including staff costs. So where is the cost of the summonses coming from?

Another local government, Burnley, released some info a few years ago - a breakdown of their costs.

Liability Order Summons Costs – the most numerous thus having the greatest impact on taxpayers. In accordance with the Council’s Charging Policy we are required to ensure that full costs are recovered. But at the moment, due to the way current accounting systems are configured, we are unable to accurately estimate exact costs incurred. However, Council Tax technical guidance on Liability Orders (England and Wales) states that “the likely cost of proceedings claimed by the local authority on a summons is between £35 and £50” (Council Tax Handbook 5th Edition – Child Poverty Action Group). Intelligence would suggest that our proposed charge of £30 is generally in line with other authorities

Can justification be given to why, in a Council document listing proposed savings, i.e. "Increase summons cost" - projected savings of £188,000 for each of the following 4 years is forecasted when such fees are to cover Council Tax recovery, not constitute savings by way of income generation?

The costs raised are to cover the cost of Council Tax collection and recovery. This includes the technological systems in place and employment of staff. Costs collected also cover monies paid to Her Majesty's Court Service for the use of their facilities. The monies raised from costs are not greater than the cost of the service. The increase in summons costs does not represent `income generation' but a saving that can be made in the cost of the delivery of the service, that would otherwise ultimately be passed on to the Council Tax payers of North East Lincolnshire.

1. We refer you to the Council Tax Administration and Enforcement regulations 1992, which state that the Council may add costs reasonably incurred by the authority in connection with the application.

2. The Council Tax Administration & Enforcement regulations do not require the Council to justify the amount charged to each individual, only that the costs have been reasonably incurred by the authority in connection with the application up to the time of payment or tender. The annual budget for all activity associated with recovery of Council Tax and Business rates amounts to approximately £1.1 million.

2011/12 Revenues budget (debt recovery)

A0184 Control & Monitoring

Total revenue expenditure budget – £507,000
£ recharged income – £0
Percentage recovery work – 20%
Cost attributable CT recovery – £101,400

A0187 Debt Collection

Total revenue expenditure budget – £738,500
£ recharged income – (£121,800)*
Percentage recovery work – 100%
Cost attributable CT recovery – £616,700

A0191 Council Tax

Total revenue expenditure budget – £826,900
£ recharged income – £0
Percentage recovery work – 50%
Cost attributable CT recovery – £413,450

Total £1,131,550

*cost of sundry debt collection recharged to other directorates

Perhaps they don't know.

STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL 9th May 2006

SUMMARY:

The report identifies ways of funding additional resources to ensure the backlog of work that has arisen due to changes in the IT system are addressed.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That Cabinet consider the following recommendations:

• that the Council Tax establishment is increased by two members of staff.
• that the Council Tax summons cost be increased from £10 to £15 with immediate effect.

I are been a-googling the gubmint domain and have confuddled myself.

Does this really mean what I think it means? [pages 33 to 35]

Courtesy of warwickshire.gov.uk: