Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser | News | County's households owe £9m in council tax

Sunday, 7th September, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 12:00

County's households owe £9m in council tax

By Jamie MacDonald

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Council leader Janet Cadenhead says people not paying their council tax means less money is available for services.

HOUSEHOLDERS in Clackmannanshire owe almost £9 million in unpaid council tax rates whilst the council is struggling to cut £3 million from its budget.

Figures – dating back to the introduction of council tax in 1996 – were revealed at Thursday’s meeting of Clackmannanshire Council. For this financial year alone, £1.8 million is still outstanding, added to £7 million unpaid in the county from the 11 previous years.

In addition to council tax debts, council officers are still trying to recover around £600,000 still owed from the days of the poll tax.

Council leader Janet Cadenhead told the Advertiser that the council tax money not being paid was affecting spending on services in the Wee County.

She said, “Every payment makes a difference to what can be spent. The money would go into the general budget helping areas like care in the community, social work and education.

“It’s the extras we would like to spend money on but due to financial pressure we just can’t.”

Clackmannanshire’s councillors have been struggling in recent weeks to balance the annual budget, and £3 million in “savings” have had to be made to the original proposals. Nine school crossing patrols and 10 classroom assistants are amongst the services being cut as the council feels the pinch. The cuts have been criticised by councillors for risking children’s lives and education.

Ironically, a large part of the pressure on the budget has been caused by the freezing of council tax rates, which had previously been earmarked to rise to finance construction of the new Alloa, Alva and Lornshill academies.

Councillors were keen to stress that there is help available to those struggling with their council tax payments.

Ms Cadenhead added, “It is very important that people do keep up to date with payments.

“If people get a bit behind or are in difficulties let us know and the Revenue Services team can arrange a repayment plan. The emphasis is on paying something.”

People who are finding it difficult to afford their council tax payments can contact Clackmannanshire Council’s Revenue Services on 01259 450000, or those experiencing financial problems in general can contact Clackmannanshire Council’s Money Advisors for free and confidential advice on 01259 452512.

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