Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is owed a staggering £23.25 million in council tax, new figures have shown.
The figure, obtained under FOI by Local Democracy Reporting Service, accounts for the years since the local authority was founded in 2009 to the end of the last financial year in April 2021.
Covid also hit the council coffers – with an extra £1.7 million unpaid in 2020/21 compared to the previous year.
But bosses – who raised council tax by 4.99% in April – say the authority’s collection rate is one of the best compared to other authorities.
Cllr Amanda Stott (Bollington, Ind), chair of finance at Cheshire East Council, said: “The amount of outstanding council tax carried forward from March 31 2021 was £23m, which represents approximately 0.9 per cent of the total council tax billed by Cheshire East over 11 years of £2.7bn.
“The council’s collection rate of more than 99% compares favourably with other unitary authorities, with Cheshire East placed highly for its collection performance.
“It is normal for a further one per cent to be collected over the following two years.
“The amount carried forward, taken as an annual debit, is 8%, compared with a 14% average for other unitary authorities.”
Regarding the latest figures, which show that £8,630,525 was unpaid for 2020/21, compared to £6,917,134 for the year 2019/20, Cllr Stott said: “The council tax year 2020/21 was an exceptional year with the council supporting residents financially impacted by Covid by allowing payment of council tax to be deferred and by postponing formal debt recovery action.
““Our debt recovery rate for that year was lower at 97.39%.”
She added: “As the economy recovers, the council has refocussed its debt recovery activity, while ensuring the most vulnerable residents continue to be protected.
“The council expects to see more than £11m of arrears targeted for further recovery action.”
Council tax was increased by the maximum 4.99% in April 2021. It was the sixth increase since 2010/11.
Never come across a Council so mis-managed as Cheshire East. How can they qualify such a debt of £23m unpaid council tax. What steps are being taken to recover those owed millions – probably get written off eventually – then more costs added to those of us under CE having to pay more.
All councils praise there selves regarding the collection rates they achieve but and its a big but none of them seem to realise that council tax national not collected amounted at 31st March 2021 £7.4 billion, yes SEVEN BILLION POUNDS.
Don’t believe it. I had to question several times re unpaid council tax and after nearly four years left CE they have taken on the services of a solicitor, more expense.
I know for a fact that I owe them not one red cent.
Situation the same with Cheshire East, Tunbridge Wells also prone to issuing false bills. So sick of fighting with them.
Check your bills people.