21/06/2004

Minister hails increase in council tax collections

Local authorities in England are collecting more of the council tax and business rates owed to them, according to government figures released today.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said that unpaid taxes create an unfair burden on those who do pay, and pledged to continue supporting councils in improving their collection rates.

The figures show that by the end of March councils in England had received 96.5% of the £16.57 billion they could have collected. This is a rise of 0.1% and comes on top of the previous year's increase of 0.3%.

The councils showing the best improvements in their performance include Teesdale, which improved its collection rate from 93.2% during 2002/2003 to 97.5% this year, and Kirklees, which raised its collection rate from 93% during 2002/2003 to 95.7% this year.

Other improving councils included North East Lincolnshire, Islington, Plymouth, Knowsley, Derwentside and North Somerset.

The proportion of business rates collected has also improved. Councils had collected 98.3% by the end of March, up by 0.1% on the previous year.

(gmcg)

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