Local Government Finance Act 1988

F1 SCHEDULE 4 E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4 repealed (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, 117(2), Sch.14 (with s. 118(1)-(4) and subject to saving in relation to Sch. 4 para. 6 by S.I. 1993/1780, art.2); Sch. 4 further amended: (6.3.1992) by 1992 c. 14, s. 102 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4)); (1.7.1992) by 1992 c. 6, ss. 3, 4, Sch. 1, Sch. 2 paras. 100, 101; Sch. 4 para. 6 subject to an amendment (11.6.1996) by 1995 c. 18, s. 41(4), Sch. 2 para. 18; S.I. 1996/1509, art. 2, Sch.; Sch. 4 para. 6 subject to an amendment (18.10.1999) by 1998 c. 14, ss. 86(1), Sch. 7 para. 17; S.I. 1999/2860, art. 2(c) Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in Schs. 16-18); Sch. 4 para. 6 amended (so far as it continues to have effect) (2.7.2002) by 2002 c. 16, ss. 14, 22(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 29; S.I. 2002/1691, art. 2(l)

Part I E+W Introduction

1 (1) The Secretary of State may make regulations in relation to the recovery of—

(a) any sum which has become payable to an authority under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 above and has not been paid;

(b) any sum which has become payable to an authority under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 3 of that Schedule and has not been paid;

(c) any sum which has become payable to a chargeable person under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 4 of that Schedule and has not been paid;

(d) any sum which has become payable to an authority under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 5(2)(a) or (5) of that Schedule and has not been paid;

(e) any sum which has become payable (by way of repayment) to a person other than an authority under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 2, 3 or 5(2)(b) or (5) of that Schedule and has not been paid;

[F2 (ee) any sum which has become payable under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 21(a) of that Schedule and has not been paid;]

(f) any sum which has become payable (by way of repayment) to a contributor under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 4 of that Schedule and has not been paid;

(g) any sum which has become payable to an authority under any provision included in regulations under paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 above and has not been paid.

(2) References in sub-paragraph (1) above to a sum which has become payable and has not been paid include references to a sum forming part of a larger sum which has become payable and the other part of which has been paid.

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 4 para. 1(1)(ee) inserted by S.I. 1989/438, reg. 60(2)

Part II E+W Charges: Sole Liability

Preliminary E+W

Liability orders E+W

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 4 para. 3(2A) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 13(2)

Information E+W

Textual Amendments

F4 Sch. 4 para. 4(2)(c) inserted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 13(3)

Attachment of earnings E+W

Marginal Citations

M1 1971 c. 32.

Deductions from income support E+W

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Distress E+W

Commitment to prison E+W

Bankruptcy E+W

Marginal Citations

M3 1986 c. 45.

Winding up E+W

Textual Amendments

F5 Words added by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 13(4)

Charging orders E+W

Relationship between remedies E+W

Magistrates and justices E+W

Part III E+W Charges: Joint and Several Liability

14 This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(b) above.

15 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may make, as regards the recovery of such a sum, provision equivalent to that included under Part II of this Schedule subject to any modifications the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(2) In particular, the regulations may provide that where a sum is payable by a chargeable person and a spouse or manager (as the case may be)—

(a) a liability order may be made against the chargeable person alone, or against that person and the spouse or manager;

(b) a liability order may not be made against the spouse or manager alone;

(c) where a liability order has been made against both the chargeable person and the spouse or manager, an attachment of earnings order may be made against one of them or different attachment of earnings orders may be made against each;

(d) where a liability order has been made against both, deductions from income support may be made in respect of one of them or of each;

(e) where a liability order has been made against both, distress may be made against one of them or against each;

(f) where distress has been made against each, a warrant of commitment may be applied for against one of them or different warrants may be applied for against each;

(g) where distress has been made against the chargeable person only, a warrant of commitment may be applied for against that person;

(h) where a liability order has been made against both, a charging order may be made against one of them or different charging orders may be made against each.

(3) As regards a case where a magistrates’ court has made a liability order against a chargeable person and a spouse, the regulations may include provision that a warrant of commitment may not be applied for against the spouse unless distress has been made against the chargeable person and it appears to the authority concerned that no (or insufficient) goods of that person can be found.

(4) As regards a case where a magistrates’ court has made a liability order against a chargeable person and a spouse or manager, the regulations may include provision that—

(a) steps by way of attachment, deduction, distress or charging may not be taken against one while steps by way of the same method or another of those methods are being taken against the other;

(b) where a warrant of commitment is issued against (or a term of imprisonment is fixed in the case of) one of them no steps, or no further steps, by way of attachment, deduction, distress [F6 bankruptcy, winding-up or charging may be taken against any of them].

(5) In this paragraph “chargeable person”, “spouse” and “manager” shall be construed in accordance with sections 16 and 17 above.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 139, Sch. 5 para. 13(5)

[F7 Part VIA E+W Co-owners]

Textual Amendments

F7 Sch. 4 Part VIA (paras. 21A, 21B) inserted by S.I. 1989/438, reg. 60(3)

21A This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(ee) above.

21B Regulations under this Schedule may make, as regards the recovery of such a sum, provision equivalent to that included under Parts II to VI of this Schedule, subject to any modifications the Secretary of State thinks fit.

Part IV E+W Contributions

16 This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(c) above.

17 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that any such sum shall be recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Part V E+W Discount Adjustments

18 This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(d) above.

19 Regulations under this Schedule may make, as regards the recovery of such a sum, provision equivalent to that included under Part II of this Schedule subject to any modifications the Secretary of State thinks fit.

Part VI E+W Repayments

20 This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(e) or (f) above.

21 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that any such sum shall be recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Part VII E+W Penalties

22 This Part of this Schedule applies as regards the recovery of any sum falling within paragraph 1(1)(g) above.

23 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may make, as regards the recovery of such a sum, provision equivalent to that included under Part II of this Schedule subject to any modifications the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(2) Provision as to penalties incurred under paragraph 2(8) to (11) of Schedule 3 above before 1 April 1990 may be included in regulations under this Schedule notwithstanding that no liability to pay amounts in respect of community charges arises before that date.

Part VIII E+W General

Exclusion of certain matters E+W

24 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that any matter which could be the subject of an appeal under section 23 above may not be raised in proceedings under the regulations.

Costs E+W

25 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that where a charging authority has received in proceedings under the regulations an amount by way of costs it shall pay an amount (determined in accordance with prescribed rules) to a prescribed person for the benefit of such court as is identified in accordance with prescribed rules.

Termination of proceedings E+W

26 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that in a case where—

(a) proceedings under the regulations have been taken as regards the recovery of any sum mentioned in paragraph 1(1) above, and

(b) the outstanding amount is paid or tendered to the person to whom it is payable,

that person shall accept the amount, no further steps shall be taken as regards its recovery, and any person committed to prison in pursuance of the proceedings shall be released.

(2) The outstanding amount is an amount equal to the sum concerned or to so much of it as remains outstanding (as the case may be).

(3) In a case where costs and charges are relevant the outstanding amount shall be treated as augmented by a sum (of an amount determined in accordance with prescribed rules) in respect of costs and charges incurred in the proceedings up to the time of payment or tender.

Offences E+W

27 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 4 above to supply information and—

(a) he fails without reasonable excuse to supply the information in accordance with the provision, or

(b) in supplying information in purported compliance with the provision he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(2) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that—

(a) a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 5(1)(d) or (2)(b) above to comply with an attachment of earnings order and fails to do so;

(b) it shall be a defence for a person charged with such an offence to prove that he took all reasonable steps to comply with the order.

(3) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 5(2)(g) or (h) or (3)(a) or (b) above to notify another person and—

(a) he fails without reasonable excuse to notify the other person in accordance with the provision, or

(b) in notifying the other person in purported compliance with the provision he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(4) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person guilty of an offence under any provision included under sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a) level 2 on the standard scale (where the provision is included under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (3)(a) above), or

(b) level 3 on the standard scale (where the provision is included under sub-paragraph (1)(b), (2) or (3)(b) above).

(5) References in this paragraph to any provision included under paragraph 4 or 5 above include references to any equivalent provision included under paragraph 15, 19 [F8 , 21B] or 23 above.

Textual Amendments

F8 “, 21B” inserted by S.I. 1989/1057, reg. 3(3)

Other enactments E+W

28 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may apply any provision contained in or made under a relevant enactment, or may apply any such provision subject to prescribed modifications, or may contain provision equivalent to any such provision (whether or not subject to prescribed modifications).

(2) Relevant enactments are Part VI of the M4 General Rate Act 1967, the M5 Attachment of Earnings Act 1971, Part III of the M6 Social Security Act 1975, the M7 Charging Orders Act 1979, and any enactment applied by any of those enactments.

Marginal Citations

M4 1967 c. 9.

M5 1971 c. 32.

M6 1975 c. 14.

M7 1979 c. 53.