Rates in arrears and attracting penalties

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Southland Regional Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Southland Regional Council,

According to your website (https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/payments), rates are due at the end of November each year, with penalties imposed for late payment. I would like to request the following information under the LGOIMA:

* The amount of rates currently in arrears (both as a dollar figure, and a proportion of the rates charged each year);
* The amount of rates rates in arrears as at 1 July 2020 remaining unpaid on 1 January 2021 (both as a dollar figure, and a proportion of the rates charged each year; the existence of a policy to charge penalty payments at this point suggests you may be able to track how much is outstanding);
* A copy of any policy on issuing legal proceedings to recover rates (under s63 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002), and for enforcement of judgements by sale or lease (as permitted by s67-69 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002). If there is no formal policy, then an indication of the circumstances (e.g. amount or duration of arrears and level of non-coperation) under which such action would be taken.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Bronwyn Auckram
Southland Regional Council

Dear Alex

Official information request

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 12/02/2021.
We received your request on 12/02/2021. We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 12/03/2021, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.
Yours sincerely
Bronwyn Auckram

Bronwyn Auckram

Environment Southland Te Taiao Tonga

P 03 211 5115
Cnr Price St & North Rd, Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840

This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate,distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is required please request a hard-copy version.

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From: Bronwyn Auckram
Southland Regional Council


Attachment Official Info Act.pdf
203K Download View as HTML

Attachment Rates Collections Procedure.pdf
212K Download View as HTML

Attachment 2019 Policy Rates Remission Postponement.pdf
845K Download View as HTML

Attachment Rate Setting Agenda Item 2020 21.pdf
895K Download View as HTML


Good morning Alex

 

Thank you for your Official Information Request dated 12 02 2021.

 

As per your request below, we enclose the following information.

With regards to the second request we have calculated the rates in arrears
as at 1 July 2020 to 31 January 2021 (not 1 January 2021 as stated)

 

* The amount of rates currently in arrears (both as a dollar figure, and a
proportion of the rates charged each year);

* The amount of rates in arrears as at 1 July 2020 remaining unpaid on 1
January 2021 (both as a dollar figure, and a proportion of the rates
charged each year; the existence of a policy to charge penalty payments at
this point suggests you may be able to track how much is outstanding);

* A copy of any policy on issuing legal proceedings to recover rates
(under s63 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002), and for enforcement
of judgements by sale or lease (as permitted by s67-69 of the Local
Government (Rating) Act 2002). If there is no formal policy, then an
indication of the circumstances (e.g. amount or duration of arrears and
level of non-cooperation) under which such action would be taken.

 

This information has been provided to you under the provisions of the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. If you
believe your request has been denied without reason or you are
dissatisfied with the information provided, you have the right to complain
to Ombudsman.

 

 

Kind regards

Amy Kubrycht

 

Bronwyn Auckram
Receptionist and Records Officer 
Environment Southland  Te Taiao Tonga

P 03 211 5115 | DDI 03 211 5710 | M  
Cnr Price St & North Rd, Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840
[1][email address] |
[2]www.es.govt.nz | [3]facebook.com/environmentsouthland

The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient please
advise the sender immediately and delete the email and attachments. Any
use, dissemination, reproduction or distribution of this email and any
attachments by anyone other than the intended recipient is improper use of
the information.

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References

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