Tax dodgers owe Middlesbrough Council nearly £2m
by Neil MacFarlane, Evening Gazette
Oct 7 2011
TAX dodgers owe cash-strapped Middlesbrough Council enough to save nearly £2m worth of under threat services.
The authority faces the biggest round of budget cuts in its history with a total of 78 public services facing the axe - including libraries, community centres and sports centres.
But the latest figures show the town hall was owed about £1.9m in outstanding council tax.
That sum would be enough to keep scores of public buildings open.
The budget proposals revealed earlier this week will see a range of community facilities close including four libraries, eight youth and community centres, eight children’s centres, and the Tennis World and Clairville Stadium sports centres.
The council has to make cuts worth £50m over the next four years after its funding from central Government was slashed.
And, as part of the savings drive, the Captain Cook Birthplace museum is to shut down over the winter from next month until the spring.
The authority has maintained that the attraction will reopen.
At the last count, the council was owed £1.9m in outstanding tax. That sum would be enough to keep the museum open year-round until 2017.
Councils initially chase up outstanding council tax payments by sending out reminders.
They are followed by court summonses and - ultimately - liability orders if the debt remains unpaid.
Figures obtained after a Freedom of Information request show that, despite the recession, the number of people in Middlesbrough issued with summonses for unpaid bills has steadily fallen over the last five years.
In 2007 there were 13,493 summonses issued - worth a total of £7.3m. The same year 10,398 liability orders were granted, worth £5.6m.
But last year 10,150 summonses were issued - worth £6.3m, and 8,247 liability orders were granted worth £5.1m.
The total outstanding council tax debt from 2007 stood at £2.3m. But it fell to £1.9m in 2010 - the latest year for which figures are available.
Councillor Dave Budd, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Resources, said: “We have a duty to every resident in the town who pays council tax to pursue those who default.
“If anyone is having genuine difficulty paying we urge them to contact us as soon as possible and we will try to assist.
“As the figures show the amount of unpaid council tax in Middlesbrough has reduced year on year thanks to our improved collection processes.”
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