Suspicions are falling on the Medway Conservative group for allowing widespread use of private bailiffs and debt collectors to chase its own residents.
Using Freedom of Information request Big Brother Watch has compiled a list of 320 councils that use bailiffs the most, and several Kent authorities make the chart.
In total, local councils in the UK have passed almost six million cases to debt collectors between 2007-10. The money outstanding is usually Council Tax, of which Medway has a poor record of collection compared with improving rates elsewhere in Kent, and parking fines.
Other Tory run councils in Kent which operate the practice include Bromley with almost 47,000 cases, Thanet with more then 27,000, Bexley with 23,000, Gravesham with 16,500, Canterbury with 13,5000 and Sevenoaks with 7,000. So much for the libertarian streak of the Tories; all good in theory but totally unworkable in practice it would seem.
A major question is why Medway Council, which is Tory-led, has failed to respond to Freedom of Information requests by Big Brother watch?
It may be because they have something to hide prior to a local election, whereby citizens maybe somewhat concerned that the Tories are spending money on private agents to monitor residents.
A question will be tabled at the next Council meeting so that residents can find out the truth and why the Council has failed to respond to this simple request.
Other Kent Councils were perfectly able to respond and it raises concerns that once again information is not being distributed to residents.
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