Councillors issued with reminders to pay Council Tax

Calderdale councillors from all the major parties have run-up arrears on their council tax payments.
Halifax Town HallHalifax Town Hall
Halifax Town Hall

The information has been revealed in a Freedom of Information request to Calderdale Council who sent out reminders to four councillors, including a final notice for £584.

This was sent to Councillor Pat Allen (Lib Dem, Elland). She received a reminder for £75.52 on April 4, 2014. She also received a reminder for £68.47 on the following year before a second reminder on May 21, 2015. A final notice was sent to her on June 23, 2015 for £584.00.

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Ryburn councillor Robert Holden (Conservative) received a reminder for £266.00 on December 22, 2015.

He explained that the reason a reminder was sent to him was because he had switched bank accounts and a direct debit had not been set up.

Conservative colleague Coun John Ford (Elland) was handed a notice on August 11, 2014 for £81.27.

Coun Ford also received a second reminder on November 11 the same year for £58.27.

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In 2015 he was given a reminder in July for £34.19 and second notice was sent in October for £61.19.

Coun Ford explained that he paid Council Tax in lump sums and when he has been sent reminders he has paid them off immediately.

“I don’t think I have transgressed or broken any rules or regulations of the Council in my 40 years as a councillor.”

Coun Dot Foster (Labour Sowerby Bridge) received a reminder on August 4, 2015 for £94 and another notice was issued in September for £54.

All the councillors’ accounts were eventually paid in full.

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Over 97,000 bills were issued at the beginning of the financial year by post or electronically. These bills have set instalment dates each month and can be paid either 10 or 12 monthly (customer must have opted to pay by 12 months).

If payment is not received by the set instalment date then the Council will issue a demand/reminder a minimum of seven days later.

Since April, the council has issued 14,274 reminders.

Councillors Foster and Allen were unavailable for comment.