This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Council tax collection at record high
17/06/2005
Figures released by the Executive reveal that Scottish
councils collected an estimated 93 per cent of their
2004-05 council tax - the highest in-year collection rate
to date.
The figures also show councils have made significant
progress in dealing with council tax arrears. For example,
councils only collected 87 per cent of 1998-99 council tax
that year - pursuit of late payers and non-payers has now
increased that figure to more than 95 per cent. Other years
show similar increases.
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom
McCabe said:
"There is still room for improvement in council tax
collection, but these figures are a step in the right
direction.
"These figures should help deliver improved services for
local people and lower council tax increases. Importantly,
they should also mean a more even loading on local
taxpayers - it is not right to expect the majority of
taxpayers to continue to subsidise the minority who, for
whatever reason, do not pay their share.
"I have criticised councils in the past where they have
not performed as well as we would have liked and it is only
right that I now praise those who have improved for their
efforts in achieving this.
"However there remains no room for complacency and we
will continue to work closely with local authorities to see
what more can be done to drive collection rates up even
further. We have commissioned research into the reasons
behind the problems with collection rates in Scotland and I
expect the results of that to be available by the end of
this year."
Councillor John Pentland, COSLA's Finance Spokesperson,
said:
"Councils are improving their collection rates year on
year but I am particularly pleased with the 93 per cent
figure.
"Collecting council tax is and remains a major priority
for Scotland's councils. Not only is it in councils'
interest to collect council tax, it is in the general
public's interest to pay it.
"Although there is an onus on councils to collect
council tax which today's figures show they are doing with
record levels of efficiency, there is a duty on the public
to pay their council tax. If people drive a car they pay
road tax, if people are in employment they pay income tax
and council tax is no different - people should be paying
it.
"However, we should concentrate on the positive and the
vast majority of people do pay council tax and they have my
assurance that those who do not pay will be pursued.
Despite the record levels of council tax collected, we are
keen to improve our performance and we will not rest on our
laurels and shall be striving towards achieving even better
collection rates in future years."