Written Assembly Questions tabled on 29 June 2016 for answer on 6 July 2016
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the disposal of pet waste via three and four weekly general refuse collections? (WAQ70573)
Answer received on 7 July 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The frequency of residual waste collections is a matter for individual Local Authorities. The Welsh Government has supported research into the potential health impacts of reduced frequency collections, relevant to pet and other wastes, which I have explained in more detail in a letter to the Member.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister make a statement on the writing-off of £7 million in council tax rates as bad debts in 2015-16; a rise of £1 million more than in 2014-15? (WAQ70574)
Answer received on 7 July 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Mark Drakeford): Local authorities are responsible for the collection of council tax, including any decisions to write off bad debts. Collection rates improved again last year in Wales and are now at their highest for 22 years.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline his plans to target support at certain councils who are struggling to collect the full amount of council taxes due, given that recent statistics highlight that Blaenau Gwent's collection rates have fallen from 95 percent in 2014-15 to 93 percent in 2015-16? (WAQ70575)
Answer received on 5 July 2016
Mark Drakeford: Local authorities are responsible for the collection of council tax which provides vital funding for public services. It is important that local authorities seek to achieve a high collection rate. I recognise circumstances continue to be challenging for households. We have provided £244 million for Council Tax Reduction Schemes in 2016-17 with Blaenau Gwent receiving £8.39 million to enable it to help households in meeting their council tax liability.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline plans to assist councils in the collection of outstanding council taxes, currently £86 million across Wales, as at 31 March 2016? (WAQ70576)
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What steps is the Minister taking to address high outstanding council taxes owed by individuals in certain authorities, such as Merthyr Tydfil, which has £131 of council tax outstanding per chargeable dwelling and is currently charging £1609 for a Band D property, the third highest rate in Wales? (WAQ70577)
Answer received on 5 July 2016
Mark Drakeford: The collection of council tax is a matter for local authorities but I am keen to identify and share good practice in this area. The Welsh Government is currently funding two pilots with Merthyr Tydfil County Council and Newport City Council looking at different initiatives to improve collection rates. The findings from these pilots will be shared with all local authorities in Wales.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister outline support currently available for council taxpayers who are currently in arrears, as well as outline plans for their support during the Fifth Assembly term? (WAQ70578)
Answer received on 5 July 2016
Mark Drakeford: Local authorities are responsible for collecting council tax and offer a range of measures to support households in meeting their liability, for example spreading payments over 12 months rather than the usual 10. In addition to this, our Council Tax Reduction Scheme provides financial assistance to more than 300,000 households in paying their council tax bills. Advice on financial management and debt is also provided by a range of third sector organisations, many of which receive funding from the Welsh Government.