Court & Tribunal Officer
Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Council
Band 5
Main Purpose of Job:
To work in a team responsible for Council Tax liability & enforcement
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Key Responsibilities:
Revenues
1. Responsible for setting up enforcement timetable, liaising with the Magistrates Court to agree hearing dates and the Systems Team to ensure all recovery and enforcement notices are issued accordingly.
2. Monitor the performance of the external Bailiff on matters referred for collection.
3. Prepare cases and represent the Council at the Magistrates court for Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates to obtain Liability Orders
4. Prepare Means Enquiry Hearings for Committal proceedings at the Magistrates Court which will involve direct liaison with Court as well as the Bailiff.
5. Monitor arrest warrants and liaise with the bailiffs as required and monitor all committal cases on a monthly basis.
6. Reschedule for court hearing committal cases where special arrangements are not honoured.
7. To deal with customer enquiries resulting from enforcement action in person, by email, by telephone or by letter, providing an excellent, polite and courteous public service at all times.
8. To ensure all arrears accounts are actively pursued by monitoring and ensuring that enforcement action is not being held up, through effective case management.
9. To deal with Bailiff returned cases and to make decision on next course of action; Committal/Insolvency/Charging Order/Winding up order etc
10. Liaise directly with the Revenues Manager and follow the Councils Write Off Policy in relation to debts deemed as irrecoverable.
11. To prepare appeals concerning Council Tax liability and represent the Council at Valuation Tribunals.
Housing Benefit Overpayments
12. To ensure all routes on recovery are explored; e.g. DWP direct deduction, attachment of earnings prior to County Court action.
13. To ensure that enforcement documentation (Pre County Court letter) etc. is issued in a timely manner
14. To ensure that the County Court ‘Fast Track’ enforcement is utilised for collection of this type of debt
15. Monitor cases for which a County Court judgement has been obtained.
16. To undertake any other appropriate duties as assigned by the Revenues Manager commensurate with the grade.
Note: This is a description of the job as it is constituted May 2014 but, as the organisation develops, it may be necessary to vary the duties and responsibilities from time to time. It is the practice of both Councils to periodically review Job Descriptions to ensure that they relate to the job as being performed or to incorporate whatever changes may be necessary. It is both Councils' aim to reach agreement to such reasonable changes with the post holder but if agreement is not possible the Councils reserve the right to insist on changes to the Job Description after consultation with the post holder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential / DesirableKnowledge and Experience / Minimum of 2 years experience within a similar environment
Experience of working in Local Government Revenues
Microsoft Office and Outlook / Experience of corporate debt recovery or fines recovery
Experience of Document management system
Skills and Abilities / Good computer literacy/IT skills
High level of Customer Care skills
Good written and oral communication skills
High standard of numeracy and accuracy
Good team working skills
Self-manage own workload and work to strict deadlines
Ability to gather and analyse facts and information
Flexible approach to work.
Education and Training
(including on-the-job training) / Minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C or above to include Maths and English
Must be willing to undergo further training to expand on existing knowledge / IRRV Level 3 certificate
Minimum of 2 A levels passes at grade D or above
Key Competencies:
Customer and community focus: Providing quality, consistent and responsive customer service that responds to and values different cultural, physical and social needs
Innovation, Challenge and Change: Continuously improving performance and activities, actively contributing to and promoting change
Working Together: Working effectively with others to deliver and improve all council services
Developing Capability: Ensuring everyone, including themselves, has the right knowledge skills and attitude to be effective in their role / · Deals with all internal and external customers in a consistently professional way, fairly and with respect
· Seizes opportunities and is prepared to do things differently and try new ways of working
· Keeps calm in difficult situations and is resilient under pressure, understands pressures on others
· Recognises, reflects on and learns from, successes and mistakes / · Obtains feedback from customers and uses this to inform the development of services and processes
· Seeks out examples of good practice and ideas from both inside and outside the councils, finding ways to implement them
· Is prepared to compromise and reach consensus decisions for mutual benefit of partners and corporate goals
· Keeps people informed in a clear and timely manner so they can perform their roles effectively
Other Requirements: / May involve contact with vulnerable adults
Will be required to work across Waveney & Suffolk Coastal DC