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NILGA – OUTSTANDING RATES COLLECTION IMPACTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
26 July 2010
President of the local government association (NILGA) publicly states that the Land and Property Services position is ‘clearly unacceptable’.
President of NILGA Councillor John Mathews said “I am extremely concerned and disappointed to hear that the Land and Property Services’ is currently failing to collect outstanding rates totalling more than £157m, on behalf of local and central government within Northern Ireland. This failure has a direct impact on Council budgets and limits the services that council’s are able to provide.”
“In these tough economic times local government is committed to working collaboratively to ensure that our services are delivered efficiently and LPS must also play its role.
He continued, “Land and Property Services collect rates on behalf of councils as well as central government, who also oversee and commission the services. Issues with the efficiency and effectiveness of the service being provided by LPS were highlighted some time ago by both local government and the Assembly. NILGA has been working with LPS through a strategic partnership over the past two years to enable and support them to work in partnership with councils.
“This partnership is to ensure that information on rateable properties is up to date and relevant. A number of councils now provide additional support, such as identifying derelict buildings and those currently in use, all information is put forward to the LPS central office for follow up. We are also very willing to identify any other areas to support the service as it is becoming more and more critical that outstanding funds must make their way to the relevant council.
“Whilst we all have empathy for those who have lost their business and are experiencing difficulty in paying their domestic rates, support is available through ‘Rate Relief’. However, LPS has a responsibility to pursue debts and to ensure that individuals are aware of the relief and the support they may be entitled to. This is particularly relevant as over 1/3 of rates arrears relate to domestic dwellings and it is unfair to have inequalities for those paying, while their neighbours do not. Having over £157million in outstanding rates is clearly unacceptable. This money could have funded the reform of local government which has been postponed due to many reasons, one of which is the lack of funds to support the process.
“I request Minister Wilson investigates additional ways to support businesses in making their rate payments. Through my position as President of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, I will personally be asking for further information from the Minister on the performance of Land and Property Services and I will also be seeking to secure assurances that LPS can deliver both the uncollected rates and the appropriate improvements for the benefit of rate payers and councils.”
ENDS
For more information please contact: Tara Cunningham, Director of Communication & Engagement t.cunningham@nilga.org or Mark Maher, Communications Officer m.maher@nilga.org
Northern Ireland Local Government Association NILGA
Unit 5B Castlereagh Business Park, 478 Castlereagh Road, Belfast BT5 6QA.
Tel: 028 9079 8972 Web: www.nilga.org
