Council Must Be More Lenient With Families Hurt By Recession

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is calling on councils to be more lenient on hard pressed families as the recession bites.

Figures obtained by Mr Sanders show that Torbay Council called in the bailiffs 10,780 times last year to collect arrears on council tax and other payments.

The Government is asking mortgage lenders to avoid repossessions and the same should apply to councils, who should seek more sympathetic payment plans and make bailiffs a last resort. 

Mr Sanders commented: “When the Government runs out of money, it can defer payments and borrow more.  The general public don’t have this luxury but in times of recession, public bodies should do more to be more lenient to hard pressed families.”

“It is not about writing off debts, but ensuring that they can be repaid with as much sympathy for the current economic climate.”