Issue - meetings

It was moved by Councillor Sir Ron Watson and seconded by Councillor Bliss:

Annual Delivery of Council Tax Demand

Sefton Council recognises that the annual delivery of the Council Tax Demand plays a very significant part in household budgets and in many cases - particularly for the elderly - represents the single largest financial burden that many face on a monthly basis.

Sefton Council now considers that the use of the word "Demand" is somewhat aggressive and intimidating and as such is very rarely used in business and commerce.

As a consequence the Council believes that it should now be referred to in the future as an "Invoice" or "Statement of Account", the Council further believes that it may be necessary for a change in regulation by HM Government for this to happen and therefore requests the LGA to take up this issue on behalf of Sefton in particular and Local Government in general.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Hardy that the Motion be amended as follows:

After the words “and therefore requests” and before the words “the LGA” include the words “Sefton Council’s Legal Department to investigate the Legal regulations in relation to this matter and respond to the Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services before requesting” and take out the word “the” before the word “LGA”.

In accordance with Paragraph 71 in Chapter 4 of the Councils Constitution, Councillor Watson indicated that he accepted the amendment as a “friendly amendment” to his Motion.

Following debate on the Substantive Motion, it was unanimously

RESOLVED:

Sefton Council recognises that the annual delivery of the Council Tax Demand plays a very significant part in household budgets and in many cases - particularly for the elderly - represents the single largest financial burden that many face on a monthly basis.

Sefton Council now considers that the use of the word "Demand" is somewhat aggressive and intimidating and as such is very rarely used in business and commerce

As a consequence the Council believes that it should now be referred to in the future as an "Invoice" or "Statement of Account", the Council further believes that it may be necessary for a change in regulation by HM Government for this to happen and therefore requests Sefton Council’s Legal Department to investigate the Legal regulations in relation to this matter and respond to the Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services before requesting LGA to take up this issue on behalf of Sefton in particular and Local Government in general.