Struggling residents urged to seek help concerning council tax payments

Lancaster City Council is reminding residents who have fallen behind with their Council Tax payments that help is on offer concerning payment of their bills. 

Whilst the vast majority of residents have continued to make payments on time throughout the coronavirus pandemic, some have fallen behind.

Reminder letters asking people to bring their payments up to date are due to be sent out soon, with the council urging those in financial difficulty to get in touch to see what help is available.

Available options include revised instalment plans and deferred payments, where appropriate. 

The city council can be contacted for help and advice on 01524 582900 or by emailing ctax@lancaster.gov.uk. 

Councillor Anne Whitehead, Cabinet member for finance, explained:

The coronavirus pandemic has affected us all in different ways, and we recognise that people will have financial worries due to being furloughed, having had their hours reduced or through losing their job.

There are a number of ways we can help and any residents who receive a reminder, and are concerned about paying their bill, should get in touch immediately to see what options are available.

If they prefer, Citizens Advice can also provide confidential and impartial advice and are ideally placed to help with the whole range of debt, housing problems and welfare benefit issues. 

They can also assist residents to reach an agreement over payment of their Council Tax which is affordable.
 

North Lancashire Citizens Advice can be contacted on 03444 889 622 (local rate number). 

As well as providing advice on debt, Citizens Advice also have a dedicated Help to Claim Universal Credit adviser who can help with initial claims and advice managing money. 

While as the billing authority Lancaster City Council collects Council Tax, it only receives around 12% of the total bill to spend on its services, which include the collection of waste and recycling, parks and open spaces, street cleaning and environmental health.
Of the remaining bill, excluding parishes, the majority goes to Lancashire County Council (73%), with precepts from Lancashire Police Authority (11%) and Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (4%) making up the rest.

 

Last updated: 09 October 2020