A community union says it has won its campaign against the council’s use of bailiffs. Acorn Brighton has been calling for Brighton and Hove City Council to stop using bailiffs to collect overdue council tax and rather focus on “fair repayment plans and an ethical debt collection policy”. In September, the union delivered a petition to Hove town hall asking the council to “boot the bailiffs”.
The council already does not send bailiffs to low-income households. And now the council says it is “reviewing its debt collection policy” for other households too. It is looking at alternatives to enforcement action, with new policy coming next year.
Keziah Hall, chairwoman of Acorn Brighton , said: “We're delighted that the council has made this long-overdue change. The petition being delivered in a boot to the town hall (Image: Acorn) “This will have a massive impact on the lives of struggling people across the city, and shows the power of Acorn’s strength in numbers.” Brighton and Hove City councillor Tristram Burden, cabinet member for adult social care, public health and service transformation, said: “The cost of living is exacerbating the mental health crisis, and Labour want to compassionately respond to the city’s needs.
“The use of doorstep calling needs to carefully consider mental health and other vulnerabilities such as economic abuse. “On investigating our current debt policy, the Labour administration were heartened to find measures already dep.
