FI15764

Request

This FoIA request relates to the £150 energy bill support payments (sometimes called a ‘council tax rebate’) issued to Council Tax band A-D households in your area as at 1 April 2022. Further information is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-council-tax-rebate-2022-23-billing-authority-guidance/support-for-energy-bills-the-council-tax-rebate-2022-23-billing-authority-guidance 

On 2 September 2022, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities reminded local authorities in England to place any unclaimed “core” £150 payments onto council tax accounts for eligible households. This allowed for payment after the “core” scheme closed. See the section titled “Crediting council tax accounts” here: https://web.archive.org/web/20221116231926/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1102995/220902_Final_CT_Rebate_CTIL-_next_steps_for_Sept_2022_update.pdf 

The questions below only relate to the “core/main” £150 scheme. No information is required concerning the separate “discretionary” schemes. 

1) For properties where you are the local council, how many properties have an unclaimed “core” £150 on their council tax account? 

2) How many of the properties in “1)” had at least one individual in council tax exemption class N as at 1 April 2022? 

3) For properties where you are the local council, how many are recorded as a Home in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for planning purposes but not for council tax purposes? 

4) How many of these properties in “3)” have an unclaimed “core” £150 on their council tax account and had at least one individual in council tax exemption class N as at 1 April 2022? 

5) What decision(s) has the council made regarding distribution of these unclaimed “core” £150 payments to the eligible 1 April 2022 occupants?

Response

  1. As at 31 March 2023 it was 3,816.  For the reasons stated above, no current data is held.
  2. As at 31 March 2023 it was 13.  For the reasons stated above, no current data is held.
  3. The Council does not hold this information.
  4. The Council does not hold this information.
  5. As at 31 March 2023, any unclaimed fund was placed on the customers Council Tax account to reduce Council Tax liability.  We sent a revised bill and additional communication to all customers inviting them to apply for a refund.  Customers were refunded if and when a request was made.