01/12/2006 - Council Tax – Direct Debit Payments

Residents who currently make their first council tax direct debit payment in May are being written to by Welwyn Hatfield Council (WHC) to inform them that their payments for 2007/08 will be brought forward by one month to commence from April 2007.

All other residents in the borough start payments in April. In addition to bringing all payments in line borough-wide, this change will bring the council in line with every other council in Hertfordshire, who always request their first council tax payment in April.  

As well as collecting council tax for themselves, WHC also collect for Hertfordshire County Council, the Police Authority and the Town and Parish Councils. Those authorities are then paid their monthly share of the bill by WHC, starting in April each year.  If WHC have not collected enough money then it has to be borrowed to meet that commitment and WHC then incur interest. This cost then falls on all council tax payers in future years.

Councillor Richard Smith, Executive Member for Resources, said: “One of Welwyn Hatfield Council’s priorities for the next five years is to make sure we are accountable to you by becoming more cost efficient year on year.
We need to keep the cost of collecting council tax as low as possible and this change will save an estimated £12,600 per year by bringing us into line with all other councils in Hertfordshire.”

Those residents affected will receive their council tax bill next March as normal. The direct debit change will happen automatically – they do not need to take any action. Payments will still run over ten months and there will still be two months where payments are not required (February and March 2008).

For any more information contact the council on 01707 357000 or email contact-whc@welhat.gov.uk

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Notes to Editors:
* Letters to residents are being sent out on Monday 4 December.
* Approximately 23,000 residents currently make their first direct debit payment in May.
* Paying by direct debit helps the council to reduce council tax collection costs further, allowing for money to be spent on delivering services. 60% of residents pay their council tax by direct debit.