Council tax dodgers beware - baliffs are on the prowl

The drive to recover around 1m owed to Arun is backed up by the message: "Pay up or expect a knock on your door from bailiffs."

Although Arun's council tax collection record was an impressive 98 per cent last year, some residents will neither pay the tax, nor respond to letters offering help if it is needed.

Now a firm of bailiffs, Ross and Roberts Ltd, has been taken on by Arun as enforcement agents from the beginning of next month.

Paul Askew, Arun's head of revenues and benefits, said: "The majority of council tax and business rate payers in Arun pay on time and are to be thanked for it, but there are still a number of individuals who just will not pay.

"It is the 'won't pay-ers' who will be targeted by the bailiffs '“ since this tiny minority are placing a financial burden on all of the other individuals and businesses who recognise that they need to pay promptly.

"We have a duty to ensure that we try to collect payment from everyone who owes the council money and has the ability to pay. Therefore, we have selected Ross and Roberts to work in partnership to help improve our collection of older debts.

"It is not just the district council being affected by non-payers '“ the council tax also goes towards the police, fire service, education services and other essential parts of community life. Every penny not collected is a penny taken away from some of the most important building blocks in our district."

Councillor Ricky Bower, Arun cabinet member for resources, backed the move to use bailiffs. He said: "It is important that we demonstrate to everyone who pays on time that we are serious in dealing with the non-payers. Any money that the bailiffs collect will be re-invested in the front line to improve services and could be used to reduce future council tax rises."

Other options open to the council in tackling its debtors include attachment of earnings orders, direct deductions from benefits, issuing charging orders against property, bankruptcy proceedings and, ultimately, prison.

In the last financial year, Arun started bankruptcy proceedings against debtors with large arrears who were considered to have the means to pay but chose not to. The cases proved "very successful", said a spokesman, and resulted in an extra 56,000 being collected from just 12 people.

The council urged any council tax and business rate payers having difficulty in paying to contact the revenues and benefits department, 01903 737500, or by e-mail: [email protected]