By supporting the work of the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), the WLGA has agreed that Welsh local authorities will commit to only using ECB accredited enforcement agencies to collect outstanding council tax. The ECB is the independent oversight body for the enforcement sector, established following a collaboration between the civil enforcement sector and leading debt advice charities.

Accreditation enables enforcement agencies to make an active public commitment to accountability and seeking to meeting higher standards.

Wales is the first of the UK nations to make such a commitment.

Councillor Anthony Hunt, WLGA Spokesperson for Finance and Resources said:

“Collection of local taxes is vital for council funding and by only using accredited agencies it reinforces the council’s role as a considerate and responsible creditor. If you find yourself in difficulty with your council tax, we urge you to contact your local council in the first instance as they can help and offer signposting to other advice providers if needed.”

Catherine Brown, chair of the Enforcement Conduct Board said:

‘’The ECB is delighted that Wales has made such an important commitment to only using accredited enforcement firms for council tax collection. By making this commitment, the WLGA is sending a vital message to the enforcement industry about the value of accountability and to meeting high standards.

“The ECB encourages all creditors who use enforcement firms to make use of our accreditation scheme and to follow Wales’s powerful example.”

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