Two Weeks' Council Tax and Business Rates Crackdown

Bailiffs are due to visit at least 500 North Norfolk people who haven't paid their council tax and business rates and take possession of goods and property, unless the debtors make arrangements to pay what they owe beforehand.

Anyone who does not arrange to pay before the crackdown starts - and those being targeted have had at least four chances to pay before now - will have goods or property seized and sold at auction in a bid by North Norfolk District Council to collect a total of £616,000 unpaid council tax or business rates (the sum of all previous years' debts).

Those who do have outstanding debts are urged to contact the bailiff or Council to agree how they will pay back their debt, and over what period of time. Payment can be made by cash or cheque at the Council cashiers office at Holt Road, Cromer, at post offices, or by Direct Debit.

Anyone wanting to avoid further action should call the relevant bailiff (the bailiff will have written to them in the past, so they should have contact details) as responsibility for collecting the debt now rests with the bailiff company. If they do not know how to contact the bailiffs, debtors can call the Council on 01263 516230 to arrange repayment. After 28 January, the chance to make arrangements will have passed and the bailiffs will seize items to the full value of what a person owes.

The bailiff visits will take place from 28 January for at least a fortnight. The details of 1180 people have been passed to bailiffs, though half of these people have now made arrangements to pay, and so will not be visited.

Councillor Peter Moore, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: "It is everybody's duty to pay council tax. It is unfair on everybody else if you can pay, but don't.

"We have a help and advice team for people who are having difficulties, and council tax benefits are available to help people in real need. There are also many forms of discount, exemption or relief for council tax and business rates payers. So people should get in touch with the Council before their debt becomes a real problem."

Last year, North Norfolk District Council collected 98.3% of council tax and business rates, putting it in the second quartile compared with other councils around the country. This year, the Council has a target of 98.6%, which would put it in the top quartile, and it is currently on target to reach this level.

ENDS