Bristol City Council has issued a statement to clarify its position
Bristol City Council insists bailiffs will still be used to collect debt (stock picture of bailiff at house) (Image: Getty)
Campaign group ACORN has demanded a meeting with Bristol City Council bosses after the authority issued a statement on its debt collection practices involving the use of bailiffs.
It follows a report by Bristol Live last month that ACORN had claimed a major victory in stopping the authority’s use of enforcement agents for the poorest households.
At the time council leader Tony Dyer (Green, Southville) said that officers were “identifying vulnerable debtors on our system so we can stop sending bailiffs to those debtors who are unable to pay”.
He said: “This would almost certainly include those on income-related benefits, including working people on low incomes.
“It also includes people who are identified as temporarily vulnerable when their income has significantly dropped, such as where they have lost work or material working hours, welfare benefits and tax credits.”
But in the aftermath, Bristol City Council has issued a statement to clarify that it would still be using bailiffs to collect council debt.
A council spokesperson said: “The council does retain the option to use enforcement, such as bailiffs, to collect any council debt. This does include council tax debt.
“Council tax debt and how we manage our approach to collecting this debt is of great importance to the council, as we are determined to balance this responsibility with a compassionate approach that recognises and supports residents facing financial challenges.
“Every local authority has a legal responsibility to collect council tax because it funds vital local services such as social care, education, and waste management.
“We know that vulnerable residents and those who are in receipt of council tax reduction may sometimes require additional support to be able to pay their council tax.
“It is our priority to work with these residents, encouraging open communication about individual circumstances and helping wherever possible.
“Any enforcement action, including the use of bailiffs, is always a last resort. We urge all residents who have concerns about their ability to pay their council tax bill to contact us as soon as possible so that we can work together to find the best solution.”
A spokesperson for ACORN said: “This is a really odd statement from the council. I’ve read the article in question several times and I can’t find anyone quoted in it claiming the council isn’t using bailiffs anymore.
“The council leader’s original statement says ‘we are already identifying vulnerable debtors on our system so we can stop sending bailiffs’. This was just last month.
“We have written to the head of the debt department demanding a meeting to find out why their policy is not being put into practice.”