For all questions, we would like the responses that relate to the latest figures that you have available (please state the date period in your response) and, ideally, the preceding 12 months.

1. How many people/households are in arears with:
a) Council Tax (We would like to know how much debt is overdue i.e. the amount owed to the Council that is past the date by which it should have been settled)
5175 households are in arrears with Council Tax. (As at 01/04/2021 relating to financial year 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021)
Arrears debt: £1,253,734.77 (amount as at 01/04/2021 relating to financial year 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021)

b) Rent
680 of 2,530 tenancies owed £0.01 or more at Sunday 4 April 2021.

c) Other payments owed (please specify)
Not applicable.

2. How much is the overdue debt to the council from:
a) Individual households
Council Tax accounts in an individual’s name: £1,106,751.15
Rent: Debt for the 2,530 occupied council owned homes was £443,944.07 at Sunday 4 April 2021 (down from £628,231.52 at 6 April 2018).

b) Businesses
Council Tax accounts in a company name: £146,983.62

3. What is the annual cost of pursuing arears with:
• Letters
£17,622.62
• Calls
Do not hold this information.
• Legal action (internal costs)
£639,841.85 (costs, including staffing costs, associated with the recovery of Council Tax).
• Legal action (external costs)
£3,554.50.
• Debt Collectors / Bailiffs
£0
• Bad debt write-off
Current annual bad debt provision is £1,379,866.67
Actual Council Tax liability debts written off in 2020/21: £268,037.94
• Other (please specify)
The council Rental Income Team has 5.5 full time posts with these staffing costs (that are inclusive of on costs) being £252k a year. There is a budget for legal fees (costs of issuing claims and using the internal legal service) of £11k a year.

4. What is the annual spend on interventions resulting from evictions and repossessions:
• Emergency housing
• Emergency grants
• Other (please specify)
For 2020/2021 the cost for emergency accommodation resulting from council evictions/repossessions was: £7630.

5. Has the Council measured the relationship between evictions & repossessions and increased costs (if so please provide whatever data is available) for:
• The criminal justice system
• The health service
• Social Care
• Mental Health
• Other (please specify)
No/No information held.

6. How many evictions for debt have been initiated by the Council?
During 2020/21, there were no evictions for rent arrears for the council owned homes. The question uses the word ‘initiated’ and during 2020/21, the Rental Income Team has asked the court to apply for one bailiff warrant for the council owned homes for which at 11 April 2021, this eviction date is yet to be provided.

7. Does the Council seek custodial sentences for non-payment of debts?
No.

Which department at the Council is concerned with supporting the financial wellbeing of residents?
• Department name
• Department email
• Named contact (if available)
We don't have a single team/department that deals with this as split across multiple teams. Council Tax and Housing are the two main areas.
Council Tax: CTax@wokingham.gov.uk
Housing: CCOHousing@wokingham.gov.uk