The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. While it will continue to meet, the Committee has agreed it will not consider petitions submitted after 10 October. This is to ensure all petitions currently in the system can be considered before the next Scottish Parliament election. It is also unlikely that the Committee would be able to schedule and meaningfully progress petitions submitted after 10 October before the election. Contact the Committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot for more information about the petitions process.
If you are seeking emergency action or an urgent policy change please contact one of your 8 MSPs or the Scottish Government directly
Closed petition PE1897: Reform certain of the procedures for the collection of Council Tax
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to reform those procedures for the collection of Council Tax which apply when a person has difficulty in making payment.
Previous action taken
I wrote to the then leaders of all the main political parties in the including Richard Leonard MSP and Jackie Baillie MSP (Labour); Jackson Carlaw MSP (Scottish Conservatives) and a number of SNP MSPs. I have also written to my own local MSP.
Background information
Council Tax should be fair and just. It is not. For example, if a notice is not received by a person, the Council will simply refer the matter to Sheriff Officers. This results in an adverse entry on their credit record. This is causing real hardship. Those doing their best to pay can run into difficulties (injured; redundant). In any other case a person anticipating such a dispute could raise that issue - but not in relation to Council Tax which is excluded. The Summary Warrant issued is equivalent to a ‘Court Decree’. The powers that Sheriff Officers now have are seemingly limitless. Bank Account arrestment and even bankruptcy. Those going to Citizens Advice Bureau for advice will be offered a form of voluntary bankruptcy known as a Protected Trust Deed (PTD). There has been a 20% jump in these. Reform is needed.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
8 signatures