Nottingham City Council has sought to explain why £150 tax rebate payments have been delayed compared to other local authorities across the county. The Labour-run authority expects payments will land in bank accounts by the end of June.
Conservative chancellor Rushi Sunak announced the payment earlier this year amid the soaring costs of living. Many payments began to land in bank accounts, including in Rushcliffe, as early as April 29 but residents in the city expressed frustration they had not yet received theirs.
The city council now says payments have commenced as of Tuesday, May 10. For residents in Bands A to D (and certain residents in Band E) who pay by Direct Debit, the council says it has commenced payments and expects to have made the majority of payments by the end of June.
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For residents who do not pay by Direct Debit and for whom the council holds no bank details, it says it will be writing to each household on how to apply for the payment once all direct debit payers’ payments have been made. It added it will be announcing details of an application process where people will be able to provide bank details to validate and make payments.
The Government also announced a discretionary scheme for resident in Bands E to H and councils have until November 2022 to make payments. Details of this scheme will be announced in the summer, the city council added.
City council leader and Dales ward councillor, David Mellen, sought to explain the delay. He said: “We understand that residents will be want to receive their money as soon as possible and we are working hard to ensure that payments are received well within the Government’s deadlines.
“Also, the stipulation that councils need to make a payment rather than simply crediting Council Tax accounts has resulted in both significant additional work and the need to make changes to our IT systems. We are now working towards everyone on direct debit payments receiving the payment by the end of next month and people paying by other methods receiving it as quickly as possible.
“Of course, we appreciate that people are facing a cost of living crisis now and we are doing all we can to make these payments as soon as possible.”
Councillors criticised the Government's plans to make councils pay residents £150 during full council on May 9. They said the systems in place did now allow councils to make payments, and so IT software had to be updated and made "fool-proof" to avoid fraudulent activity.
