THOUSANDS of York residents behind on council tax payments are now facing visits from debt collectors after City of York Council took their cases to court in an effort to recover just under £2 million.
More than 4,500 non-payment cases went before city magistrates yesterday - and 3,347 liability orders were issued, allowing bailiffs to swing into action.
The court action to retrieve valuable lost funds comes as the cash-strapped authority tightens its purse strings in an attempt to meet an estimated £10 million budget deficit.
The council today confirmed that they were chasing just under £2 million, from a total of more than £62 million collected each year.
The 4,500 cases represent the late payers from the 82,000 council tax bills in York. Each case costs roughly £40 to take to court, with the council recovering costs from successful cases.
A council spokeswoman, commenting on the court action, said: "The efficient collection of council tax is essential for the city and for everyone who does pay their council tax so that they do not end up paying extra for those who don't."
She said: "The council is committed to helping people on low incomes access the appropriate benefits to help them pay their council tax.
"However, if people don't pay we have a duty to take every appropriate action to reclaim the money owed."
A total of 4,405 council tax cases - owing an average of about £400 each - were listed before the magistrates and 5,425 people were liable to pay the tax - as some tax orders have more than one person liable. A total of 288 business rate cases were taken to court, for which 576 people were liable.
Half a dozen council officers spent two hours outside a packed court interviewing about 45 people who received summonses.
After the interviews officers announced they were withdrawing 629 cases and that 428 accounts had been paid.
One case was adjourned and 3,347 liability orders were made, which enable the council to send in the bailiffs to get the tax.
On business rates, 50 were withdrawn, 31 were paid and 207 liability orders made.
Every resident who received a liability order has to fork out costs amounting to £50.
Updated: 10:01 Friday, October 15, 2004
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