Council tax Support and council tax arrears

Rightsnet members may be interest in the growing refusal to award costs (extract from hbinfo newsletter)

“With Council Tax arrears increasing and the number of summons issued by local authorities heading towards record numbers, members report a growing backlash. Those affected are ignoring local authority advice and are turning up to magistrate hearings to plead their case. In many instances this is beginning to have an impact, if only because the usual position the Council can put forward of 100% Council Tax Benefit and the possibility of a DHP is no longer valid.  Members report adjournments of cases and refusal of any costs even where a liability order is granted. Nor is it helpful for local authority staff to mention the wide powers of discretion to reduce Council Tax in the Local Government Finance Acts and then admit to magistrates these powers have never been used in the last 15 years! Welfare rights members may want to take this into account particularly when helping those affected by a range of cuts”.