A HARLOW resident has questioned why Harlow Council require him to hand over a copy of hs bank statement in order to get a £150.00 energy rebate.

David Foreman has tabled a question for the next cabinet meeting on Thursday June 16th.

The question is:

My Question in four parts is to Cabinet portfolio holder for Governance Cllr Alastair Gunn

“Firstly, why has Harlow Council chosen to demand a copy of a bank statement for those not paying Council Tax by direct debit when writing to the Council Tax payer or Liable Person to invite a claim for the Government’s £150 energy rebate payment (see attached file)?

“Secondly, given the requirements of paragraph 4.7 of Harlow Council’s ‘Council Tax Rebate Scheme 2022-23’ to merely “obtain the necessary bank details” will the Council agree that demanding copies of bank statements is a gross intrusion of privacy?

“Thirdly, will the Council accept that less intrusive means could be used to satisfy paragraph 4.7 of the Council’s policy, such as a copy of the bank card that displays the bank account number paying Council Tax, which then also would satisfy the Council’s duty to uphold Article 8 (Right to respect for private and family life) of the Human Rights Act 1998?

“Fourthly, will the Council accept that future letters to Council Tax payers should be amended to ensure that citizens rights to privacy are not intruded upon and that any copies of bank statements related to authorised claims stored on council or external computers are permanently deleted?”