Greens call on council to end failing policies which are hurting Lambeth’s poorest residents after new report shows Lambeth Council has issued most summonses, called in the baliffs more often and charged over £1 million in costs to its poorest residents.
Green Councillor Scott Ainslie criticises Lambeth Council’s policy on council tax support.
A new report published yesterday shows Lambeth Council is topping the league table for penalising those who fall into arrears as a result of its cuts to council tax support.
According to the report, produced by two national charities, Poverty Action Group and charity Zacchaeus 2000, in the first year of cutting council tax support Lambeth Council has:
- Issued summonses for arrears involving council tax support to more people than any other council in London (8,933 summonses).
- Called in the baliffs on those who claim council tax support more than any other council in London (3,244 cases). Camden and Southwark have not referred a single case to bailiffs.
- Charged more court costs to council tax support claimants than any other council in London, being the only council to have levied costs of more than £1 million on its poorest residents.
The report highlights that a council tax support-claiming household in Lambeth could have an annual bill of £197 which would skyrocket to £634 because of Lambeth’s policies, making it even less likely that the debt will ever be collected.
Green councillor Scott Ainslie said: “Lambeth Council’s policy on council tax support is putting an unbearable burden on those who can least afford it. Many people are already struggling to pay because of its cuts to council tax support. But even when residents are trying to find the money to pay, the Council’s summonses and unnecessary court charges are pushing residents further into hardship, and making collection even more unlikely.
“The receipt of a court summons is also an intimidating experience that can have a severe impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of someone in a vulnerable situation. Lambeth Council should recognise, like other local authorities, that their policies on council tax support are plain wrong.
“Greens support the recommendations of the report that Lambeth should reverse its cuts to Council Tax Support, which will end up costing it money in the long run. It should also minimise court costs as other boroughs have done, refrain from using baliffs in council tax support cases.”