Half a billion in council taxes uncollected
Council tax collection rates have risen only marginally, according to latest government statistics, with more than £500m still outstanding.
Link: Government to blame for council tax rises
Figures for 2003/2004 for council tax and non-domestic rates show that £15.99bn in council tax was collected in 2003/2004 out of a total of £16.57bn, meaning that £571m remains outstanding.
This is a £15m increase on the previous financial period.
Despite the shortfall, Sir Jeremy Beecham, chair of the Local Government Association, said it had been ‘another strong year for revenue collection’.
The councils which yielded the greatest improvements included Teeside, Kirlees, Erewash and Islington.