Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted in Part
Mandate local authorities to only use Enforcement Conduct Board registered enforcement agencies.
Recommendation
In preparation for this review, we recommend that the Government start to collect the necessary data, so that it has a strong evidence base on which to make a decision, and that it keep us updated on the progress of the review. In the meantime, it should require all local authorities only to employ enforcement agencies registered with the Enforcement Conduct Board. (Paragraph 65) Council Tax Collection 37 Date collection
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to update the committee on the upcoming review process, including data collection methodology. While not requiring local authorities to use ECB-registered firms, DLUHC will write to councils encouraging them to use accredited firms.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government broadly agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The Ministry of Justice remains committed to reviewing the effect of the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) to decide whether statutory underpinning is required, with work underway to prepare for the review’s launch. Once launched, the Ministry of Justice will update the Committee on the review process, which will include the methodology of data collection. The Government is already encouraging enforcement firms to seek accreditation from the ECB and for creditors to use accredited firms. So far, over 40 firms have been accepted for ECB accreditation, covering at least 95% of the annual volume of debts enforced by civil Enforcement Agents in England and Wales. The Government will continue to encourage creditors, including local authorities, to use ECB-accredited firms. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities will also write to local authorities to encourage councils to use firms who are accredited with the ECB.