Issue - meetings

Report FSD23016

The report set out the different payment options available for payment of Council Tax and proposed ways in which the number of taxpayers who pay by direct debit could be increased.  A Part 2 report also included a review of the costs of the different payment options.

Members discussed the proposed incentives and the Director of Finance outlined why a prize was being proposed.  Members noted that if more residents could be encouraged to pay by Direct Debit there were benefits to the Council.  In response to a question the Assistant Director for Exchequer Services confirmed that there were consumer protection regulations in place preventing the Council from charging a fee for payments by credit cards.

The Director of Finance confirmed that any legal tender would be accepted for the payment of Council Tax, however incentivising direct debit payments could reduce the costs to the Council.

The Committee noted that an Equalities Impact Assessment would be undertaken as part of the consultation process and the results would be reported back to Committee.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The proposal to run a prize draw with a prize of £5,000 for residents who pay by direct debit for at least 10 months during 2023/24.

2.  The proposals for increasing direct debit take up be endorsed.

3.  The proposal to consult on the removal of some of the current payment options as set out in the report be endorsed.