£65m collected in rates in oneyear alone

LPS, the Government Agency responsible for collecting rates, will be issuing rates bills to all homes and businesses in the Derry City Council area this week.

The bills show the amount due for the billing period 2012/13, any debt carried forward from previous years and any rate relief where applicable.

If any of the information on the bill is incorrect or your circumstances have changed, you should contact LPS immediately.

A LPS spokesperson said: “There are 28,089 ratepayers in Derry City Council area and through the payment of their rates they have helped to fund the provision of a number of public services.

“In fact, in 2010/11 alone, almost £65.7 million was collected in the Derry City Council area. This money has been invested in vital public services such as healthcare, education and roads as well as helping to fund a number of council services.”

Joe Campbell, City Treasurer with Derry City Council explained that income raised from rates assists Council in providing a wide range of essential services to the local ratepayers.

“Rates paid over the past number of years have also assisted Council to invest in capital projects to improve service provision across the Council area that will transform the physical fabric of the city and bring about positive change for business, tourism and communities across the city.

“Rates funding for 2012/13 will assist Council to continue to invest in waste management initiatives including additional recycling initiatives, progress with capital projects such as the Guildhall Restoration Project, the development of the North West Sports Campus, the Brooke Park restoration as well as a wide range of community schemes and projects that will benefit the entire community and maximize the opportunity presented by large scale events to be held in the city during 2012 such as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Peace One Day concert and the Olympic Flame initiative.”

The LPS spokesperson continued: “The easiest method of payment is by Direct Debit as it enables you to spread the cost of you rate bills over a 10 month period. LPS offers ratepayers a choice of three collection dates – the 7th, 15th or 28th of the month.

“If you are the owner of an occupied home and prefer to pay your bill in full, a discount of 4% is available if LPS receives payment on or before the discount date of 4 May 2012.

“Ratepayers must allow a minimum of five working days for payment to reach LPS. This discount is not available to owners of empty homes.”

Other methods of payment available include standing order, telephone and internet banking, cheque, or by using the ‘Rates QuickPay Card’. This is accepted in any Post Office and 800 participating payzone outlets.

Over the last few months, the Executive has passed a number of measures to provide relief to small businesses and rejuvenate town centres.

There are also a range of reliefs and entitlements available to domestic ratepayers.

The spokesperson concluded: “The current economic climate is putting real pressure on everyone as we, as individuals, try to juggle the financials strains of everyday living.

“If you are having trouble paying your rate bill we would encourage you to make contact with us to see if you are entitled to any of the rate reliefs available or to enter into a payment agreement with us.”