Liverpool Council will face no action from the Information Commissioner following a data breach surrounding the council tax energy rebate scheme.
It was revealed earlier this month that the local authority sent out thousands of letters to homes across the city relating to the scheme who do not pay by direct debit, inviting them to apply for the pay back. It was only after they were issued council officials realised that the wrong names had been placed on the letters.
A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirmed to the ECHO it had received a referral from the local authority as Liverpool Council sought to investigate the matter “in accordance with our data breach protocols”. The ICO spokesperson said it had now closed the case into the mix up at the Cunard Building.
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In a statement, they said: “Liverpool Council made us aware of this incident. After carefully reviewing the information provided, we gave data protection advice and recommendations to the Council and closed the case with no further action.”
New letters were issued to homes impacted by the breach containing advice on how to destroy the original as well as a reminder of how to apply for the rebate online.
The council said: “We will work as fast as we can to ensure that the funds are deposited in residents' accounts as quickly as possible.” Liverpool Council came under fire for its handling of the energy rebate since its announcement in February.
When the £150 scheme was confirmed by the authority cabinet to begin in April, it was expected that payments would be made by the start of that month and into May to the near quarter of a million homes. Yet some residents across the city have not received the financial support for their energy bills.
More than 90,000 of the around 120,000 households have received a payment. The £150 rebate is part of a £32m scheme confirmed by the Government in a bid to ease pressure on household living costs.
The local authority said residents who pay by direct debit would receive their rebate first as their bank details are already on its system. It is expected a large chunk of the money given to the council will be returned to Whitehall as it is likely the scheme will come in under budget.
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