Freedom of information response
Single person
Following a call with a representative of Thurrock Council, I am writing in follow up on a council tax query.
I called to enquire about the “single persons discount” but was told that due to the local authorities definition of a “single persons discount” I am not entitled to one as there are two adults living in the property.
For example, you have two completely un-related people occupying a property, who are both, responsible for paying their own council tax contributions, yet they are not entitled to the 25% “single persons discount”
However, I feel that this is completely incorrect….. regardless of how the council (or any authority for that matter) chooses to define something, this does not supersede a legal definition…… and the legal definition of a “single person” is - “In legal definitions for a single person refers to a person who is not in committed relationships, or is not part of a civil union”
Therefore, I find that the local authorities have actively chosen to ignore a legal definition under U.K law and have introduced your own definition of the term “single person” so as to charge more money for council tax and not provide the correct discounts.
I am therefore, under the freedom of information act 2000, I am requesting that Thurrock council respond to this email with a full definition of what local authorities consider to be a “single person”.
A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a property. No discount is allowed where there are two or more adults resident in a property. However, if there is only one person over the age of 18 resident in the dwelling, a discount of 25% is awarded. This is termed a single person discount. In this context the word ’single’ relates the dictionary definition of the word single as being one and not to single as a relationship status.
In England discounts are allowed in accordance with Sections 11, 11A, 11B, 12, 12A and 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
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