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SOUTHWARK IS THE TOUGHEST IN COUNTRY ON COUNCIL TAX CHEATS

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9 January 2009

SOUTHWARK COUNCIL has issued more court summons relating to council tax than any other local authority in the country, a Liberal Democrat survey has revealed.

The survey asked all 376 councils in the country with 172 responding and Southwark coming top of the pile with Sheffield, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth and Sandwell making up the top five.

Southwark issued 44,324 court summons during the financial year of 2007-08 and filed for bankruptcy 27 times as a direct result of council tax arrears.

The borough has been increasingly pro-active in its clampdown on council tax evaders through its 'No More Reminders' campaign.

It recently called in the expert services of the Tenon Tracker to catch-up with those who try to run away from their debt.

The figures have been welcomed by the council who, although unable to comment as the 'News' went to press, were pleased its work on council tax had been recognised.

But the Southwark Labour spokesman for resources and customer delivery hit out at the council's 'under-performance' in the first place which he suggests caused the pile-up in the first place.

Cllr Richard Livingstone told the 'News': "Though I have not investigated the figures fully, it appears to be a consequence of the underperformance of the contractors, Liberator.

"They are known for not sending out bills on time or at all in some cases while others are sent to the wrong addresses and was identified in the recent audit commission report."

"There have been so many summons because of the council's inefficiency to collect council tax properly in the first place. It causes significant hardship and misery to people having to go through the summons and court process for no reason."

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