Ombudsman hears of council tax error that led to suicideA local government ombudsman found Southwark council guilty of maladministration this week, after a man who had received a court summons for a non-existent council tax debt of Ł235, killed himself.
The relatives of George Hilleard, 54, will receive Ł3,200 in compensation, and Southwark was told to give Ł1,000 to a charity of the family’s choice. Hilleard, who had learning difficulties, did not owe a penny. He had been receiving the job seekers allowance and council tax benefit.
When the Benefits Agency mistakenly told the council that the job seekers allowance had ceased, they cut his allowance and asked him to reapply. He filled out the forms again, but it took two months before the council processed this.
In the meantime the summons was sent out and Hilleard hung himself, last January.
In a statement issued this week Southwark council said: “Mr Hilleard’s death was a tragedy and we are deeply sorry for the distress we caused to him and his family. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that such a dreadful incident should not happen again.
“A detailed investigation took place following Hilleard’s death to understand precisely what had happened and the steps needed to be taken to ensure that such a tragedy did not happen again.”
The statement said that a number of improvements had been introduced since the tragedy, including customer care training for staff, improved processing times and better liaison between the benefits agency and the council tax and housing benefits service.
“Home visit arrangements were already in place at the time of Mr Hilleard’s death to give extra support to elderly or vulnerable people making a benefits claim,” it said. “But this only works if the council is aware of those individuals.
“The visiting strategy is currently being extended to hostels, day centres and other locations to capture other individuals who might be vulnerable or need extra support.
(Property People, 7 Feb 2002)
Vyzrál na úředníky, nechtěl platit daně
Na placení daní se dá vyzrát různým způsobem. Od lesa na to šel jistý psychicky narušený Brit. Když totiž obdržel upozornění, aby zaplatil daňový nedoplatek, tak neváhal a oběsil se. Jak se později ukázalo, jednalo se o politování hodnou tragédii. George Hilleard měl kvůli své psychické poruše nárok na slevu na daních. Tělo nešťastníka objevila jeho švagrová. Místo dopisu na rozloučenou byl přiložen dopis od městského úřadu s výzvou, aby doplatil dlužnou částku, nebo bude soudně stíhán. Muž zanechal vedle něj lístek s výpočty a sdělením, že si kvůli tomuto dluhu vezme život. Městská rada Southwarku se za způsobenou tragédii Hilleardově rodině omluvila s oznámením, že přijala veškerá možná opatření, aby se podobný případ nemohl opakovat. Nabídla také pozůstalým odškodnění ve výši 3200 liber a dar jednoho tisíce liber na vhodný charitatitivní účel. (Sekunda, 1 Feb 2002?)
Council tax error leads to suicide
A man took his own life after being sent a summons BY MISTAKE for non-payment of council tax.
Southwark council, which sent the letter, was forced to apologise to the family of depressed George Hilleard. (South London Press, 27 Apr 2001)
12 May 2002