I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Please could you provide me with the following information:

1. The number of households within your billing authority that are liable for council tax and aren’t currently registered for direct debit.
Around 14,000 households

2. The number of eligible non-direct debit households that haven’t submitted a claim / application for the £150 Council Tax rebate, to date.
Around 4,000 households

3. The deadline set by your billing authority for households to apply for the £150 Council Tax rebate
Applications currently set to close at midnight on: 31/08/2022 although this is likely to be extended to around mid-September time depending on take up. All applications have to be processed and all payments made by 30/09/22.

4. As of today (the day of your response), has your billing authority used cheques, vouchers, or any alternative methods to pay the £150 rebate to eligible households that haven’t submitted a claim? Please respond yes or no. Or provide any additional information if you wish
No alternative payment methods have been used but a number of customers have requested the £150 is credited directly onto their council tax account instead