by Hayley Robinson

More than £2m in unpaid council tax is being clawed back by Swale council.

Since last April, the authority has been granted 3,178 liability orders by Sittingbourne magistrates allowing it to make legal moves in recovering £2,072,283.

The latest batch of orders – 303 in total – was granted by the court on Monday to recover £152,786.44 for the financial year 2010/11.

But this is not the final total owed for that period – this will only be known at the end of March.

The council cannot say how many households are being pursued over £2m non payments and some of the cases could date back up to six years.

Attempts to recover the full total can be complicated as non payers’ personal circumstances often change.

This means the council has to re-negotiate repayment terms.

Non payers are being warned they face court action and the use of bailiffs.

Recovery officer Janet Smith said: "We collect it and everyone has to pay it, if they don’t, services can be affected.

"There are several ways we can reclaim the money, we can either attach it to the person’s earnings, state benefits or send the bailiffs.

"Where possible we do accept offers of payment but when it’s an unrealistic amount, we take alternative measures."

Before obtaining a liability order, the council tries to liaise with the debtor to clear the owed amount.

When a payment is missed, a reminder note is issued asking them to bring the account up to date.

If they fail to do that, a final notice is sent and the full year’s charge is due within 14 days.

If the full payment is not received, a summons is issued and costs are then incurred by the debtor.

Mrs Smith added: "If people can’t make the payments, I would advise them to contact the council as soon as possible by phone, email or in person.

"Council tax benefits are available and people should apply for benefits and exemptions they are entitled to.

"Our aim is to get as many people as possible by March 31 to a zero balance.

"If people can’t clear their debt by the end of the financial year, then its added on to their next council tax bill."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey UKIP branch chairman, Ian Davidson, has responded to the news, saying reclaiming methods need to be looked at.

He said: "To be honest I am astonished it’s that much, it seems quite a lot of money.

"Perhaps they’re not being hard enough on getting the money back in?

"They should take it straight from the person’s wage if they’re employed or if they’re unemployed from their benefits without going to court.

"At the end of the day it’s another tax; why shouldn’t they take it out off someone’s pay or benefits?"

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