Dukes Secures First Placement Success with Cumberland Council Contract for Council Tax and Business Rates Recovery

We, Dukes Bailiffs Limited, are proud to announce that we have secured first-placement work on the Cumberland Council contract, further strengthening our growing portfolio of local authority partnerships and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted provider of ethical enforcement services.

Following a competitive procurement process, we have been appointed to support Cumberland Council with Council Tax and Business Rates debt recovery. The contract has been awarded for an initial two-year term, with the option of two additional 12-month extensions, and is expected to involve approximately 2,500 cases each year across both debt streams.

This appointment represents an important milestone for us and highlights the confidence local authorities place in our ability to deliver compliant, effective and customer-focused enforcement services.

A significant milestone for Dukes

Securing first placement status with Cumberland Council marks an important achievement in our continued growth within the local authority enforcement sector.

We were originally awarded the contract in 2025. However, following a challenge to the procurement process, the tender exercise was subsequently restarted. When the opportunity was reissued, we took the opportunity to review the requirements, strengthen our submission and demonstrate the value, expertise and experience we bring to local authority partnerships.

Successfully securing the contract for a second time reflects the strength of our service offering and the trust placed in us by council partners.

Our approach combines effective revenue recovery with a strong focus on fairness, compliance and customer care, ensuring councils can recover outstanding debt while supporting residents and businesses throughout the enforcement process.

Supporting councils through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) continues to transform the local authority landscape across England, creating new challenges and opportunities for councils as they adapt to changing structures, responsibilities and service requirements.

Throughout the Cumberland procurement process, we demonstrated our experience in supporting local authorities through periods of operational change and transition. Our ability to provide flexible, compliant and scalable enforcement services was a key factor in our successful bid.

As councils prepare for the impact of LGR, we understand the importance of working with experienced enforcement partners who can provide stability, expertise and operational support during times of change.

We continue to support councils by delivering reliable debt recovery and enforcement services that help maximise revenue collection while maintaining professional standards, compliance and positive customer outcomes.

This latest contract award further strengthens our position as a trusted enforcement services provider for existing and emerging local authorities across the UK.

As part of our commitment to supporting councils through this period of significant change, we recently hosted an industry roundtable discussion exploring the potential impacts of Local Government Reorganisation.

The session brought together experts from across the sector to share insights, discuss key challenges and highlight practical guidance for authorities preparing for the changes ahead.

We are now preparing a report that captures the key discussions, recommendations, and guidance shared during the roundtable. Click here to register your interest and be among the first to receive a copy when it is published.

Delivering effective and ethical enforcement services

Securing the Cumberland contract is the result of a determined and collaborative effort from teams across the company. After the original procurement was abandoned, we worked together to review the new tender requirements, refine our submission and build an even stronger bid that clearly demonstrated the quality of our service offering.

Successfully securing first placement following a second competitive procurement reflects not only the expertise within our business but also our ability to respond positively to challenges and continually improve.

With the contract now awarded, our focus turns to mobilisation. Our Operations Team is working closely with Cumberland Council to ensure a smooth transition and successful implementation ahead of the contract commencement.

We look forward to building a long-term partnership with Cumberland Council, delivering the high standards of professionalism, compliance and customer service that define the Dukes approach.

Looking ahead

This latest contract award represents another important step in our continued growth within the local authority sector.

As we expand our partnerships with councils across the UK, we remain committed to delivering ethical enforcement services that support effective revenue recovery while placing fairness, professionalism and customer care at the heart of everything we do.

We work closely with public sector organisations to provide compliant enforcement solutions that help councils achieve their recovery objectives while ensuring customers are treated with respect throughout the process.

We would like to thank everyone involved in securing this contract and look forward to working alongside Cumberland Council to deliver positive outcomes for the authority, residents and businesses within the community.

About Dukes Bailiffs Limited

Dukes Bailiffs Limited provides professional enforcement services to public sector organisations and private sector clients across the UK. With expertise in council tax recovery, business rates enforcement and compliant debt recovery solutions, Dukes works with partners to deliver effective outcomes while prioritising ethical and customer-focused practices.