Council joins CAB Council Tax Protocol

Published on 28 November 2023

High Peak Borough Council has signed up to the Citizens Advice Council Tax Protocol.

The Protocol is a good practice guide to collecting Council Tax arrears and promotes close working between councils, enforcement agencies and debt advice agencies so that a better level of service can be provided to residents.

In adopting the Protocol, the Council has made a public commitment to the principles of fairness, partnership working and transparency in local authority debt collection.

Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, and Louise Lee from the Citizens Advice Bureau met at the CAB office in Buxton to formally sign the Protocol.

Councillor Mckeown said: "The Citizens Advice Bureau Council Tax Protocol marks a clear commitment from the Council to work with our partners to offer better support to our residents who might be struggling with council tax payments.

"By working closely together, we can give our customers an improved level of service to help them pay their bills whilst accessing debt advice and related support if they need it.

"Contacting our customers and offering assistance at an early stage can really help to reduce the stress of the situation and stop people incurring further charges so I'm pleased to commit the Council to the Protocol and give our customers the confidence of knowing that we will treat them fairly."