Middlesbrough Christians Against Poverty blast councils for using 'bully boy tactics' and being too quick to take legal action and 'send round the bailiffs'
Anne Young, manager of Middlesbrough Christians Against Poverty
The number of people being taken to court for non payment of council tax has soared across Teesside.
All three Teesside local authorities have already issued more magistrates court summons this financial year than they did for the whole of last year.
But a poverty charity has blasted the councils for using “bully boy tactics” and being too quick to take legal action and “send round the bailiffs”.
More than 12,400 summonses were issued in Stockton in just the first seven months of the current financial year, compared to a total of 9,479 for the whole of last year - a 32% increase.
Middlesbrough has handed out 10,814 to date - up from 8,040 in 2012/13.
And Redcar and Cleveland has seen numbers rise from 5,641 to 6,837 for the current financial year.
Anne Young, manager of Middlesbrough Christians Against Poverty (CAP), said the charity has seen a large increase in people seeking help for council tax and other debts in recent years.
“What happens is it gets passed over to bailiffs pretty quickly,” she said. “That’s a scary thing. Nobody wants a big burly guy coming to the door.
“I was quite shocked that these bully boy tactics are being used when people aren’t that much in debt really.
“Councils should be a bit more patient about this. It’s going to take a while for us to see things getting better. What is local government going to do to help people? They need to be more flexible.
“It’s not that these people won’t pay, they can’t pay. The good thing is you can come to us for help.”
Stockton Council's Cabinet member for corporate management and finance Councillor David Harrington said: “These figures must be viewed in the context of the current financial climate and the major changes the Government is making to the welfare system.
“We pursue all debts in a firm and fair way. We are, of course, concerned when local residents find it difficult to pay their council tax and would urge anyone who is having difficulties to contact us as soon as possible so that we can provide advice and explore alternative repayment arrangements.”
Councillor David Budd, Middlesbrough Council’s deputy mayor and executive member for resources, said: “We will offer assistance to anyone who is having genuine difficulty in paying council tax and would urge those people to contact us.
“However, we also have a duty to every resident of Middlesbrough who does pay council tax to pursue those that don’t. We will use all appropriate actions to recover debt, including issuing court summons, when necessary.”
Norman Pickthall, Redcar and Cleveland Council's cabinet member for corporate resources, said he was saddened but not surprised by the figures.
He said: “Government cuts to the council tax support grant resulted in 9,600 households paying more towards their council tax and 6,000 paying at least 20% for the first time.
“Inevitably some of these people are going to fall behind and, like all councils, Redcar and Cleveland has a statutory obligation to pursue these debts.
“Meanwhile the council is doing everything it can to support people who are struggling to make ends meet and many of its councillors are pressing the Government on welfare reform.”
For help and advice over council tax and other debt problems contact Christians Against Poverty on 0800 328 0006.
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