Importance of paying council tax

Stratford-on-Avon District Council officials are warning residents about the importance of paying council tax, failure to do so could result in bankruptcy proceedings being commenced.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council collects council tax on behalf of all the public services* in the Stratford District and has a tax collection rate of 99.30%; despite this the District Council is still owed more than £448,355.84 (2010/11) in unpaid council tax which it is still actively recovering.

This follows a recent case where a local couple from Southam were made bankrupt following an application made by the District Council, forcing the sale of their house to pay a number of outstanding debts including continual non-payment of council tax.

Cllr Valerie Hobbs, Enterprise, Housing & Revenues Portfolio says: “It is the District Council's responsibility to collect council tax and we work hard to ensure that our collection rates are as high as possible and that everyone pays their fair share.  Like many councils across the country we need to find savings and allowing people to not pay tax puts further strain on our finances.

“Like all businesses the District Council at any point in time is owed money.  We are aware that people can fall behind with payments and are therefore anxious to offer help to spread payments.  Where there are outstanding debts however we will seek to recover them in accordance with statutory provisions in line with our debt policy.  We endeavour to look at all methods of debt recovery where it is cost effective to do so and in some cases we will, in fact, write off the money when it makes more sense to do so rather than continue to chase payment.

“Stratford District Council needs to ensure that it is sympathetic towards and works with those who are sincerely struggling to pay high bills, but at the same time we must crack down on the hard core of residents who are refusing to pay year on year, as that is unacceptable."

* Council tax is collected on behalf of Warwickshire County Council (including Fire & Rescue), Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Parish and Town Councils with precepts and Warwickshire Police.