GOLDSWORTHY URGES RESTRAINT OVER COUNCIL TAX ARREARS

4.30.00pm GMT Wed 7th Jan 2009

MP Julia Goldsworthy has today revealed that more than 10,000 people in Cornwall were summoned to court last year because they had failed to pay their Council Tax in full.

Research uncovered by the Liberal Democrats shows that in the last year 10,208 households were summoned to court, bailiffs were called to collect Council Tax arrears from almost 5,531 people and Councils filed for bankruptcy for 14 people in order to collect Council Tax arrears.

However these figures do not represent the full picture as only 3 out of the 8 councils in Cornwall responded to the freedom of information request.

Ms Goldsworthy is calling for all public bodies, including local authorities and government departments, to follow a Code of Practice to ensure that during the recession families are not bankrupted unnecessarily.

Commenting, Julia said:

"Overstretched families are already struggling to meet their mortgage repayments and keep their homes but this survey shows that failing to pay Council Tax can have just as devastating an effect on householders.

"Just as lenders are being asked to reduce repossessions, public bodies should do everything they can to ensure that bankruptcy is avoided where possible.

"This is not a licence to avoid paying bills but is about ensuring that court appearances and bankruptcy are the last resort."